The Evaluation of Some Heavy Metals on Soil in Dumpsite at Ifugbe Merogun, Warri South, Southern Nigeria

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 303 - 309, 31.08.2025

O. Odokuma-alonge Faith Amina Okodugha

Abstract

The evaluation of some heavy metals concentration of Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe) were undertaken on the soil in and around a dumpsite at Ifugbe Merogun, Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State. A total of twenty-two (22) composite soil samples were obtained. The soil samples were collected at depths of 0-10cm and 10 cm–20 cm interval from an active dumpsite. One (01) of the sample was collected at a distance of one hundred (100) meters away as control point to show the degree of dispersion from the source. The heavy metals evaluation was performed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) MODEL 210VGP. The results obtained were subjected to statistical test at P < 0.05 at 95% confidence level and the results presented in mean ± SD. All the studied heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cd, Fe) except Ni (10-200 mg/kg), Cu (10-160 mg/kg) and Zn (40-2990 mg/kg) concentrations ranges in soil exceeded WHO standard. The sources of the heavy metals analyzed are considered to be mainly anthropogenic. However, there should be public awareness of the dangers and negative health implications of the dumpsite on humans and the environment.

Keywords

Heavy metals , concentration , contamination , dumpsite , anthropogenic , environment

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