Determination of trace metal concentrations in soil profiles of municipal waste dumps in Nigeria

Abstract

The concentrations of trace metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn and Co) were studied in soil profiles of eight municipal waste dump sites in Warri metropolis. The results indicate that concentrations of trace metals varied widely among the different dumpsites and decreased with depths in a studied soil profile. The accumulation pattern for the heavy metals in the soil profiles follows the order: Fe > Pb > Mn > Co > Cr > Zn > Ni > Cu > Cd. The concentrations of metals found in these sites was below the Canadian remediation criteria for land for agricultural, residential and commercial/industrial purposes except for the cadmium levels in some sites that exceeded criterion values for agricultural and residential. In such sites, remedial actions are required before any form of chosen development can take place. The levels of heavy metals found in these dump sites were higher than that of the control site. The examined metals showed no significant correlation with soil physicochemical properties at the surface horizon, which is suggestive evidence that these metals arise from anthropogenic input.

Urbanization and Major Ion Hydrogeochemistry of the Shallow Aquifer at the Effurun - Warri Metropolis, Nigeria

“…Thus, potential contamination of shallow groundwater with heavy metals from four primary sources have been suggested: oil and gas and related industry activities (Aremu, Olawuyi, Metshitsuka, Sridhar, & Oluwande ,2002;Nduka & Orisakwe, 2007, 2009Emonyan, Akporhonor & Akpoborie, 2008;Etchie, Etchie & Adewuyi, 2011), leachates from unregulated garbage dumps (Akudo, Ozulu & Osogbue , 2010), road wash and storm water runoff (Egboh, Nwajei & Adaikpoh, 2000) and soils (Iwegbue, Nwajei, Ogala, & Overah, 2010). In addition, Olobaniyi and Owoyemi (2004; have also suggested possible chloride enrichment of the underlying aquifer by recharge from the tidal Warri River and its tributary creeks and argue that heavy ground water abstractions in parts of the city are potentially inducing sea water intrusion from the Atlantic Ocean.…”

Assessment of heavy metal contamination in soil due to leachate migration from an open dumping site

“…Solid waste disposals (open dumps, landfills, sanitary landfills or incinerators) represent a significant source of metals released into the environment (Yarlagadda et al 1995;Waheed et al 2010;Iwegbue et al 2010;Bretzel and Calderisi 2011;Rizo et al 2012). Leachate is produced primarily in association with precipitation that infiltrates through the refuse and normally results in the migration of leachate into the groundwater zone and pollutes it (Samuding 2009).…”

Trace Metal Enrichment in Sediments from Otofure and Teboga Waste Dump Sites in Benin City, Nigeria

“…The presence of one metal can significantly affect the impact that another has on organisms (Iwegbue et al, 2010). This effect can be synergistic, additive and antagonistic (Eisler, 1993).…”

“…This effect can be synergistic, additive and antagonistic (Eisler, 1993). Based on the limitation of (Iwegbue, Nwajei, & Overah, 2010) method, the Lacatusu (2000) method was used for this study. Based on these, the contamination/pollution index was calculated as the ratio between metals effectively measured by chemical analysis to the reference value (Table 3).…”

“…Lead concentration spanning between 47.15 and 155.07 mgkg -1 (Oyelola & Babatunde, 2008), and 1.41 -109.9 mg/kg (Iwegbue et al, 2010), have been reported in soils of municipal waste dumps and other contaminated sites in Nigeria. The concentration found in the Otofure and Temboga area is similar for the range reported by Iwegbue et al (2010) but was relatively higher than levels observed by Nwajei, Iwegbue and Okafor (2007).…”