Open AccessGeospatial distribution of heavy metal contamination in Ewekoro Limestone, SW Nigeria
Author(s) -
Kehinde D. Oyeyemi,
A. P. Aizebeokhia,
Winifred U. Anake,
Oluseun Adetola Sanuade,
Anuoluwa Abimbola Akinsiku,
O. M. Olofinnade,
Hassana O. Jonathan,
Williams A. Ayara
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of physics. conference series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1742-6596
pISSN - 1742-6588
DOI - 10.1088/1742-6596/1299/1/012080
Subject(s) - heavy metals , mercury (programming language) , contamination , arsenic , cadmium , pollution , environmental science , environmental chemistry , environmental protection , mining engineering , geology , chemistry , ecology , biology , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language
Limestone exploration has numerous advantage to the nation’s economy. However, major anthropogenic activities such as mining of such mineral deposits causes environmental contamination due to heavy metals pollution. The presence of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic can interfere with the biochemical pathways by interaction with enzymes and proteins. They equally have the capacity to alter the DNA repair mechanism and act as the inducers of carcinogenesis. The focus of the research is therefore to detect the extent of heavy metals contaminations within the sampled Ewekoro limestone, southwestern Nigeria and to ascertain the risks they posed to the quarry workers, miners and the people residing in the study area.