EVALUATION OF THE HEAVY METAL CONTENT OF SOIL FROM DUMPSITE IN YENAGOA, NIGERIA

The evaluation of heavy metal contents of soil from around dumbsites in Yenagoi was carried out in this research work. The aim was to ascertain the pollution of the sc 1. Twelve (1 ') soil samples were taken from three dumbsites and three samples from the control ite. Thes^ samples were analysed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn using Atomic Absorption pectrop otometer method. The results obtained from the dumpsites show that Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn i lows that land concentration 12.11+ 2.35,' 18.24+ 1.33 27.40 + 4.92, 115.35 + .59, 5.1 + 2.1 and 100.30 4^6.26 mg/kg in the soil respectively and in the control site, the concentratio were b.20 + 3.12, 9.11 + 94, 8.36 + 3.97, 58.83 +_12.75, 6.82 + 1.00 and 36.74 + 4.96 mg/kg, espectively. From the results the concentration of metals from the dumpsites were all higher thai those from the control sites due to located from the waste into the soil the dumpsites. Al; the metal concentration were however lower than them they WHO recommended permissible 1? nit except for Cd. The enrichment factor were from background concentration, depletion tc rr'nimal concentration and the contamination factor shows moderate contamination. The pollution load index was 2.29 which suggests heavy pollution of the soil around the dumpsites with the metals. Therefore, soils from around states stand the risks of heavy metal pollution and it is recommended that crop growing should not be done on such soil and even dugging of boreholes or well for dumpsite use should be far from such sites.