title: Ecological and human health risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in soil of a municipal solid waste dump in Uyo, Nigeria.
abstract: The study assessed the levels of some heavy metals in soils in the vicinity of a municipal solid waste dumpsite with a view to providing information on the extent of contamination, ecological risk of metals in the soils and human health risk to the residents in Uyo. Soil samples were collected in rainy and dry seasons and analyzed for metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Mn, Cr, Ni and Fe) using atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentrations of heavy metals (mg/kg) at the dumpsite in rainy season were Pb (9.90), Zn (137), Ni (12.56), Cr (3.60), Cd (9.05) and Mn (94.00), while in dry season, the concentrations were Pb (11.80), Zn (146), Ni (11.82), Cr (4.05), Cd (12.20) and Mn (91.20). The concentrations of metals in the studied sites were higher than that of the control site (P < 0.05). Pollution indices studies revealed that soil samples from dumpsite and distances from 10 and 20 m east of the dumpsite were highly polluted with cadmium. Ecological risk assessment carried out showed that cadmium contributed 98-99 % of the total potentially ecological risk. No probable health risk was observed as the total hazard index of all the metals was less than one. However, children were found to be more susceptible to heavy metal contamination than adult.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. janefrances.ihedioha@unn.edu.ng.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Ihedioha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Ukoha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Ekere
mesh_terms: D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009549:Nigeria; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D062611:Solid Waste; D002104:Cadmium
keywords: Dumpsite; Ecological risk; Heavy metals; Human health risk; Pollution indices; Solid waste