ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS IN MUNICIPAL SOLID DUMP REFUSE IN KONTAGORA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Municipal solid wastes are prevalent in most Nigerian urban centres including Kontagora and they are found in refuse dumps and this constitutes major source of heavy metal contamination of the soil. Soil sample collected from three public decomposed municipal solid waste dump sites located in BCJ, Corner Zuru (CZ), and New market (NM) areas of Kontagora town were analyzed for some heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Ni, Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu) using atomic absorptions spectrophotometer (Model 210 VIP). The analysis of the wet digestion procedure showed that the concentration (ppm) of Pb, Cr, Mn and Zn were exceptionally high especially in sites BCJ and CZ due to their location. The variation of these heavy metals across these three dump sites were in the order Fe (BCJ) > Fe (CZ) > Fe (NM), Mn (CZ) > Mn (BCJ) > Mn (NM), Zn (BCJ) > Zn (NM) > Zn (CZ), Cr (BCJ) > Cr (CZ) > Cr (NM) ND, Pb (BCJ) > Pb (CZ) > Pb (NM) ND, Cu (BCJ) > Cu (CZ) > Cu (NM) > Ni (BCJ) > Ni (CZ). Most of these metals are abundant in nature, soluble and mobile; therefore, based on FEPA standard regulation, the concentrations exhibited by these metals are hazardous. So, when these substances accumulate in the soil they can have harmful effect.

Author

Yusuf, Y. A., Mann, A., Nda-Umar, U. I. and Omeye, P. C. - Department of Science Laboratory Technology, School of Applied Arts and Science The Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State