Journal of Biological Sciences1727-30481812-5719Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/jbs.2013.264.270TaneeF.B.G. AlbertE. 42013134A study to investigate the level of heavy metal pollution in soil and plants (Panicum maximum and Centrosima pubescens) along 3 major roads (Onne-Akpajo, Refinery and Aleto by-pass roads) in Eleme, Rivers State of Nigeria was carried out. Four sampling points were taken at each road at distances of 0 m and 10 m from the road inward. pH, conductivity, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd were analyzes for the soil while Cu, Zn and Pb were analyzed for the plants. The pH and conductivity were determined by the meter method while Heavy metals were obtained by AAS. Results showed low pH (4.08±0.2-4.36±0.07) and high conductivity (135.0±25.86 -215.0±44.51 μs cm-1) while the Cu (1.55±0.37-4.25±1.38 mg kg-1) Zn (4.07±0.87-11.69±3.03 mg kg-1), Pb (2.69±0.74- 6.92±2.51 mg kg-1) and Cd (0.16±0.01- 0.26±0.04 mg kg-1) concentrations were low in the soil. Plant showed higher values of heavy metal contamination than soil. Values in the plants were in the range of Pb (136.68 ±10.3-278.4±10.7 mg kg-1), Zn (43.28±1.9 -84.52±3.5 mg kg-1) and Cu (9.26±3.0-18.89±1.8 mg kg-1). These values decreased with increasing distance from the road inward. Therefore, economic plant should not be planted along the roadside of major roads to avoid heavy metal contamination.]]>Abii, T.A. and P.C. Nwosu,20093316320Adeniyi, A.A. and O.J. Owoade,2010167625630Atayese, M.O., A.I. Eigbadon, K.A. Oluwa and J.K. Adesodun,200916225235Atlas, R.M. and R. Bartha,199212287338Bowen, H.J.M.,19791st Edn.,Chen, Y., C. Wang and Z. Wang,200531778783Fakayode, S.O. and B.I. Olu-Owolabi,200344150157Fuller, E.C.,1974Pages: 502Pages: 502Garcia, R. and E. Millan,19983716151625Horsfall, M.N. and A.I. Spiff,19991319Kabata-Pendias, A. and H. Pendias,19841st Edn.,Lenntech Water Treatment and Air Purification,2004Li, X.D., C.S.C. Wong and I. Thornton,2005129113124Liu, W.H., J.Z. Zhao, Z.Y. Ouyang, L. Soderlund and G.H. Liu,200531805812Markert, B.,1993Pages: 670Pages: 670McCluggage, D.,19911991Nolan, K.R.,198312270282Nriagu, J.O.,1996272223224Okonkwo, O.J. and F. Maribe,200424171178Peplow, D.,19991999Singh, K.P., D. Mohan, S. Sinha and R. Dalwani,200455227255Allen, S.E., H.M. Grimshaw, J.A. Parkinson and C. Quarmby,1974Tanee, F.B.G. and L.A. Akonye,2009Vigna unguiculata in a crude oil polluted tropical soil of the Niger-delta.]]>1514Tanee, F.B.G. and P.D.S. Kinako,200812143147Trusby, P.,20032003UNEP/GPA,20042004Wilson, B. and F.B. Pyatt,200766224231Yahaya, M.I., G.C. Ezeh, Y.F. Musa and S.Y. Mohammad,201042230HSE-ENV,20042004Tanee, F.B.G. and E. Albert,20112011Habashi, F.,19921992pp: 1143-1153pp: 1143-1153