摘要：Soil samples collected within the vicinity of Vehicle Serving Centres (VSCs) in Ogbomosho Township were characterised to evaluate the level of heavy metals presence in the samples. The service centres were categorised into diesel and petrol service centres and samples collected from different locations were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) to determine the presence and concentrations of Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd) and Silver (Ag). The results showed that the soils samples from both Petrol Engine Vehicle Service Centres (PEVSCs) and Diesel Engine Vehicle Service Centres (DEVSCs) are polluted with Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd and Ag. The metals concentrations measured in the collected samples from both PEVSCs and DEVSCs were found to follow the decreasing order Pb>Zn>Cr>Cd>Ag and Zn>Pb>Cr>Cd>Ag, respectively. The concentrations of Pb at PEVSCs were higher than European Union (EU) and Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) limits while the concentrations of all the metals detected in DEVSCS were below these limits. This study suggests that Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) used in Nigeria may contain lead (Pb) and may be one of the sources through which environmental of these vehicle services centres are contaminated with heavy metals.
