Abstract
Chemical fractionation of toxic metals (As, Cd and Zn) along the soil profile at waste dumpsites in military formations for dry and wet seasons using Tessier’s sequential extraction procedure was determined using AAS techniques. The order of yield across the fractions was mainly: exchangeable (F1) 0.05) in most stations. The pollution index was assessed using the degree of contamination (Cd), the modified degree of contamination (mCd), potential ecological risk and mobility factor. The Cd indicated that NFB top soil was considerably contaminated (16.3) while the soils (20 - 40 and 40 - 80 cm) recorded moderate (13.6) and low (5.60) contaminations respectively. Top soil of NSM was moderately contaminated while the contamination status of NPS, NFB and SFB waste dump soils across the depths was “low”. The mCd index for NFB dump soil was “moderate” (2.33) and subsoils (20 - 40 and 40 - 80 cm) were “low” (1.94) and “Nil to very low” (0.800) respectively. The mCd for the other three dumpsites was “Nil to very low” except the top soil of NSM which was “low”. The order of the toxic metals mobility in the studied soils using the Mobility factor (Mf) for dry and wet seasons was Cd > As > Zn and Zn > Cd > As respectively.
Highlights
Open waste dumpsites are common sites at road junctions, riversides, uncompleted buildings and closed pits in Nigeria [1] [2] [3]
It was observed that the dumpsites at the Nigerian Air Force Base (NFB) and Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering (NSM) had higher values than those at Navy Provost and Regulating School (NPS) and Special Forces Battalion (SFB)
There is the need, for closer attention to be paid to NFB and NSM dumpsites
Summary
Open waste dumpsites are common sites at road junctions, riversides, uncompleted buildings and closed pits in Nigeria [1] [2] [3]. These poorly managed dumpsites, such as the one shown, may contain toxic wastes from industrial, domestic, electronics, hospital sources among others. The indiscriminate refuse dumping has contaminated many soils and water sources making them hazardous to man and other living systems [6]. On heavy metal contamination of waste dumpsites, in many cities across the globe, have shown the varying levels as well as effects of the toxic heavy metals on man and the environment [7] [10]-[16]. This research, investigated the seasonal chemical fractionation of As, Cd and Zn in some refuse dumpsites of Military formations in Makurdi Metropolis and the potential ecological risks associated with the waste dumpsites
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