International Science Community Association Research Journal of Chemical Sciences 2231-606X 9 1 2019 01 18 Multivariate analysis and ecological risk assessment of potentially toxic metals in soils contaminated by automobile battery wastes at Kosofe area of Lagos, Nigeria 11 18 EN Esther Bernard 1 Chemical Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, PMB-65, Minna, Nigeria Jimoh Adulfatai 2 Chemical Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, PMB-65, Minna, Nigeria Yahya Muibat Diekola 3 Chemical Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, PMB-65, Minna, Nigeria Manase Auta 4 Chemical Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, PMB-65, Minna, Nigeria C.C. Ahanotu 1 Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Owerri, Nigeria A.O. Oyeyiola 2 Department of Chemistry, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria K.O. Olayinka 3 Department of Chemistry, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria > Research Paper 2018 11 25 2019 01 18 This research work studied the multivariate analysis of potentially toxic metals in soils from the vicinity of automobile battery-workshops in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos, Nigeria. Representative soil samples were collected from ten selected locations where charging, refilling, repair and disposal of automobile batteries had been taking place. The samples were digested with aqua regia and analyzed for potentially toxic metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, Zn and Cu) using the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer under optimized conditions. The physicochemical properties of the soils (pH, %organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and particle size distribution) were determined using standard analytical methods. The original results obtained were then subjected to multivariate analysis using the principal component analysis to identify the correlation between the physicochemical parameters and the pseudo-total concentration of the potentially toxic metals. The ecological risk assessment of the potentially toxic metals was done using Hakanson's proposal. The results of the analysis showed that the soils in the study area were severely contaminated with Pb, Cd and Cu. The results of the principal component analysis showed that PC1 explained 33.06% of the total variance which exhibited a high positive loading on Pb, Zn, Cr and Cu while PC2 explained 26.69% of the total variance which exhibited a high positive loading on Cd, Ni, Cr and Cu. The results of the ecological risk assessment revealed that the soils around the study area were severely contaminated with Pb, Cd and Cu and these could have both natural and anthropogenic sources. Copyright@ International Science Community Association