HEAVY METALS AND SOME PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN SOIL OF MAJOR DOMESTIC DUMPSITES IN AKURE TOWNSHIP, ONDO STATE, SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Heavy metals and soil physicochemical parameters were identified as environmental pollutants in some major domestic dumpsites in Akure city of Ondo state. The pH of the domestic dumpsites ranged from 7.07 to 7.69 with a mean value of 7.33. the organic carbon for the domestic dumpsites ranged from 0.46% to 1.18%, while the organic matter was between 0.80% and 2.05%. the concentration of Zn, Fe, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni and Cr in µg/g in the domestic dumpsites A and B ranged between 360.00-441, 169.60-547.20, 37.20-102.00, 18.8080.00, 2.36-2.95, 11.00-19.20 and 18.00- 42.20 all in µg/g respectively. Also, the contamination pollution index of Zn, Fe, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni and Cr all in the domestic dumpsites A and B ranged between 2.57-3.15, not detected, 1.03-2.83, 0.32-0.94, 2.95-3.68, 0.31-0.55 and 0.18-0.46 respectively. Pearson correlation indicated that Zn, Fe, Ni and Pb were highly significant (p<0.01).