Effects of Fuel of Electric Power Generators on Soil Properties

Abstract

Inadequate supply of energy to buildings has informed the use of service items like generators that depend on different types of fuel for its operations which are sources of pollution to various components of the environment. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of fuel of generator on the selected biophysical and chemical properties of soil to which it comes in contact. The study was carried out in Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria. Five sampling points that were contaminated by the fuel and oil of generators and control points not contaminated and mixed with its fuel were purposively selected in the study area. The soil samples collected were put in labelled polythene bags and taken to the laboratory for the analyses of soil pH, moisture content, porosity, bulk density, particle size distribution and organic matter respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques such as frequency distribution T-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the significance of the effect of fuel of generating sets on biophysical and chemical properties of the soil mass. The results of the analyses established that there were significant variations in the mean values of moisture, porosity, particle size distribution-silt content and organic matter content of soil not mixed with fuel/oil of generators (8.2840, 0.4040, 8.00 and 5.0200) and soil mixed with fuel/oil (3.1040, 0.2120,19.60 and 2.4440) respectively. The study concluded that fuel of generating sets disposed of on soil mass would negatively affect its properties necessary for the sustainable growth of flora component of the ecosystem and could cause pollution potential inunder ground water sources to be explored by the building occupants. It was therefore recommended that there is need to use environment-friendly power sources and the associated fuel waste of generators must be properly managed so as not to be a source of threat to the functions and properties of soil resources in the environment.