Abstract
This study assessed the ecological fate of heavy metals within the vicinity of an area formally used as dump site in Igbogene, Bayelsa state. Soil auger was used to collect samples at 0 - 20 cm depth at 50, 100 and 150 m distances from the four cardinal points viz: North east and west and south east and west. The soil samples were sieved, ashed, digested and analyzed using atomic adsorption spectrometry. The heavy metals results ranged from 646.73 to 715.33 mg/kg (iron), 59.30 to 73.05 mg/kg (manganese), 83.20 to 114.18 mg/kg (zinc), 10.67 to 15.95 mg/kg (copper), 7.70 to 9.64 mg/kg (chromium), 11.56 to 14.48 mg/kg (cadmium), 10.09 to 13.86 mg/kg (lead), 4.57 to 6.33 mg/kg (nickel) and 3.52 to 4.92 mg/kg (vanadium). Statistically there was no significant variation (p>0.05) across the various distances for each of the metals studied, but apparent decline in values exist as the distance away from the landfill increased. In addition, each of the metals showed positive significant correlation with each other at p<0.01. Cluster analysis revealed two main clusters. These are samples from each of the latitude directions, southern direction (east and west) and northern direction (east and west). Pollution indices were higher in sample obtained from the southern direction (west and east) compared to northern area (west and east) but generally it ranged from no pollution to moderate pollution. Positive quantification of contamination indicates that pollution due to anthropogenic activities occurred in few instances. The ecological risk index showed low risk/fate of the heavy metals studied area. Key words: Environmental risk, heavy metals, dumps site, pollution indices, wastes.  
Highlights
Environmental problems appear to be on the increase globally, which undoubtedly impacts on environmental sustainability
Variation in concentration of heavy metals have been reported around municipal solid waste dumpsite in different locations in Nigeria including Imo state (Amadi et al, 2012), Ebonyi state (Njoku, 2014; Anikwe and Nwobodo, 2001), Lagos state (Oluseyi et al, 2014), Bauchi state (Buteh et al, 2013) and Ondo state (Akinbile, 2012)
The absence of significant variation and apparent decline in heavy metal concentration at distances away from the dumpsite suggest that metals have leached into the soil; metals being mobile in the soil and leaching is a common occurrence and plays a role in determining the fate of metal in the environment
Summary
Environmental problems appear to be on the increase globally, which undoubtedly impacts on environmental sustainability. Components of the environment mostly affected are the soil or land, air, water and sediments. These components are largely influenced by anthropogenic activities and to a lesser extent by natural processes (Izah and Angaye, 2016). Wastes can be classified based on the noxiousness to the environment and its associated biota, biodegradation potentials, physical nature or characteristics and based on source (Nnaji and Uzoekwe, 2018)
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