ABSTRACT

The study of the distribution of heavy metal Cu, Zn Pb and Fe in soil and plants in Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) dump was at Ubakala was investigated. The dump was divided into three distances of Om, lOm and 20m, and soil samples collected from each of the distance at the depth of 0cm, 30cm and 60cm for dry and wet seasons. The result shows the mean value of soil physico-chemical properties from the core to the outer circle of the dump are as follows circle. The percentage sand, silt and clay ranged from 87. 77-95.15%, 0.05-7.21% and 4.79-7.64% respectively. The pH values were within 6.36 -7.38 and the percentage organic content ranged from 0.983-2.15%. The exchangeable Ca, k, and Na in meq/l0Og of soil were 8.43-24.05, 0.67-2.56 and 0.16-0.39 respectively. The effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) was 13.48-37.13. The concentration of heavy metal in the soil for dry and wet seasons were Fe: 7087 and 239 (mg/kg); Zn 222 (mg/kg) and 109 mg/kg; Cu: 44 (mg/kg) and 34.8mg/kg and Pb: 6.5mg/kg and 46.0mg/kg respectively. Iron had the highest values of 7087mg/kg and 239mg/kg for both dry and wet seasons. The study shows gradual reduction in metal concentration from core to the outer circle of the dump as depth decreased from surthce level to 60cm. The heavy metals concentrations were correlated with soil physico-chemical properties correlation. Nitrogen correlated positively and significantly with Pb indicating its association in determining the concentration of Pb in the dump soil. The study revealed that accumulation or concentration of heavy metal in the dump soil depends not only on the availability of metal enriched waste but also other factors such as soil physico-chemical. The plant within the dump showed increase in heavy metal concentration when compared with plants found in the control. The findings indicate increase in heavy metal concentration of soil and plants in the dump but did exceed the permissible limit.