HEAVY METAL ANALYSIS OF SOIL OBTAINED FROM A DUMPSITE AT UYO
Abstract
This study investigated the concentration of selected heavy metals in soil samples collected from a dumpsite located at Nasarawa road, along Wellington Bassey way, Uyo. The heavy metals analyzed included cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As). The mean concentrations obtained were Cd (3.17 mg/kg), Ni (0.21 mg/kg), Co (0.07 mg/kg), Cr (4.06 mg/kg), Pb (1.33 mg/kg), and As (0.15 mg/kg). The results were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits for heavy metals in soil. The findings revealed that cadmium concentration slightly exceeded the WHO permissible limit (3.0 mg/kg), while all other metals were within safe limits. The elevated level of cadmium suggests possible contamination from indiscriminate disposal of waste materials, while the generally low concentrations of other metals indicate minimal pollution risk. Regular monitoring and improved waste management practices are recommended to prevent further accumulation of toxic metals in the area.
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.