Analysis of Lead, Zinc, Chromium, and Iron in the major dumpsite on North Bank Mechanic Village in Makurdi Metropolis Benue State

Abstract

Dumpsites soil samples in North Bank Auto- mechanic workshop locations in Makurdi, the Benue State capital located on7°43?50?N 8°32?10?E? in a valley in north central Nigeria were analyzed. This location is chosen for investigation; being the major mechanic workshops sites in Makurdi. Workshop wastes are made up of metal pieces, wasted and used oils, paints, carbide byproducts ,used batteries, acid waste ,domestic and other industrial wastes. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (UnicamSolaar32 model) was used for analyzing the digested soil samples for heavy metal content. Mean concentrations of the selected heavy metals in the dumpsite soil at North bank  were 114.02 mg/Kg, 37.46 mg/Kg, 53.74 mg/Kg, and 48.28 mg/Kg for Pb, Zn, Cr and Fe respectively .The results were higher than their controls indicating a clear case of pollution. Heavy metals from the wastes were suspected to be the feeding source in the soils. Such a situation could be regarded as "unsafe" as these metals are eventually taken up by plants and subsequently get into the food chain. Ground. and surface water quality is also threatened as these heavy metals get leached and washed into them, making the water unfit for human consumption. Advocacy of waste disposal and its effects with legislation are recommended. This study is important to the host communities of the auto-mechanic locations as a source of awareness of the environmental effects of refuse dumpsite soils. It will also form a baseline of the environmental effects of indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

Keywords concentration , consumption, automobiles, metals and pollution .