Assessment of Soil Pollution Caused by Wastewater from the Truck Gauging Process: A Case Study from the Bureau of Mines and Geology (BUMIGEB), Burkina Faso

Abstract

This study focuses on evaluating soil and water management strategies in the truck gauging process at the Bureau of Mines and Geology of Burkina Faso (BUMIGEB). The site environment is facing pollution issues related to gauging activities, with significant accumulation of hydrocarbons and heavy metals in the soil, posing a risk to both the environment and human health. To carry out this study, a site analysis was first conducted to better understand the gauging activity. Then, three water samples and eight soil samples were collected from various strategic locations on the gauging platform. These samples were analysed to determine the concentrations of total grease and certain trace metallic elements. The ERACHECK ECO device was used to analyse total grease, and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry was employed to determine the concentrations of heavy metals. The analysis covered total grease in the water samples and the following elements in the soil samples: lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). The results showed varying levels of contamination depending on the areas. In the water samples, the total grease concentration was below the detection limit in the first sample, 44.8 mg/L in the second sample, and above the maximum detection limit in the third sample. The soil sample analysis showed chromium (Cr) concentrations ranging from 146.75 to 260.54 mg/kg, copper (Cu) from 33.96 to 148.58 mg/kg, and zinc (Zn) from 43.24 to 677.32 mg/kg. Arsenic (As) concentrations ranged from 7.00 to 9.07 mg/kg, and lead (Pb) from 44.74 to 167.82 mg/kg. Nickel (Ni) was detected in only one sample at a concentration of 22.29 mg/kg. Cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) were not detected. To address this issue, phytoremediation was identified as an ecological, economical, and sustainable solution. A theoretical evaluation of plant species capable of extracting, stabilising, or degrading pollutants was carried out. Plants such as Vetiveria zizanioides, Helianthus annuus (sunflower), and Brassica juncea (Indian mustard) were proposed due to their tolerance to heavy metals and their decontamination potential.