Heavy Metals Concentration of Dumpsites and Their Influence on the Soil Physical Properties in Three Major Cities of South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

This research was carried out to determine the concentration of heavy metals in soils of major dumpsites and their influence on soil physical properties in three major Cities in Southeastern Nigeria, namely; Owerri, Aba and Onitsha. Soil samples were collected randomly at depths 0 to 15cm, 15 to 30cm, 30 to 45cm. The samples were  taken to the Laboratory for routine analysis to determine the soil physical properties while the concentration of Ni, Pb, Cr, Cd, Zn, Fe and Mn were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The data generated were subjected to the following statistical analysis: Analysis of variance and least significant differences (LSD) in means, co-efficient of variation and correlation showing the relationship between soil physical properties and heavy metals. Results showed that soils irrespective of location have high sand fraction ranging from 617.8  1.63g/kg while silt and clay have very low values when compared with sand. This could allow large quantities of leachates from dumpsites to permeate ground water table. The soils were generally acidic. Concentration variation across the locations was observed to be low. The mean values of the concentrations of the heavy metals across all locations are as follows; Ni 13.406 (  0.352) mgKg-1, Fe 425.52  44.38mgKg-1, Pb 22.93  0.86mgKg-1, Cr 31.69  3.42mgkg-1 and Cd 11.89  0.86mgKg-1. Concentrations of heavy metals at waste dumpsites were all higher than the control location. Keywords: Heavy metal, concentration, Dumpsit