Environmental Pollution of the Soil by Heavy Metals at a Dumpsite Located at Esuk Utan, Calabar, CRS, Nigeria

Abstract

The rate at which heavy metals are polluting the soil at a dumpsite and at the residential area at Esuk Utan, Calabar Municipal Government Area was investigated. This was carried out by the method of digestion using UV visible Hach 500DC spectrophotometer. Analysis of the soil samples was done for ten heavy metals. The result showed that eight of the heavy metals analyzed for had values below the World Health Organization (WHO) limit for their presence in the soil and therefore were not harmful to the environment as at the time that the samples were collected. Iron and chromium however were present at levels greater than the minimum values recommended by the WHO. These two metals were found to be present at levels that could be dangerous to human health. Some of these heavy metals can find themselves into our food chain if we eat vegetables and other crops grown in and around the dumpsite. These heavy metals have very serious health implications if allowed into our body.