HEAVY METALS ACCUMULATION IN SOIL AND GROUND WATER FROM A WASTE DUMPSITE IN MAKURDI, NIGERIA USING COLD VAPOUR METHOD

Abstract

The safety of waste dumpsite situated within the heart of many developing cities of the world continues to be a source of worry within the scientific community. The extent of environmental pollution by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) waste dumpsite in Makurdi, Benue State was investigated by determining the concentrations of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) in 26 soil samples and 3 groundwater (GW) samples collected around the waste dumpsite. Environmentally available metals were acid extracted from soil and groundwater samples and determined using cold vapor method. Mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) levels in soil ranged from (0.25-0.38), (0.01-0.11) and (0.23-0.35), (0.001-0.10)mg/kg for 25cm and 50cm depth respectively. The concentrations in the ground water were: Hg (0.27-0.33). These levels for mercury were far higher in varying degrees than background levels, suggestion serious anthropogenic influence from the landfill. The concentration of Hg in the soil and groundwater sample is higher than permissible limits indicating a common origin for the metals. Pollution and Geoaccumulation indices revealed pollution of soil and groundwater, therefore, an urgent attention to mitigate this menace is required by government and stakeholders.