A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DUMPSITES METAL LOADS AND ECOLOGICAL RISK IN SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN KWARA AND EKITI STATES, NIGERIA.

This study compared the presence of selected heavy metals in Gbagede dumpsite (GD) and Ilokun dumpsite (ID) dumpsite in Kwara and Ekiti State with the host communities Gbagede community (GC) and Ilokun community (IC). Ten soil samples were collected randomly at 10 cm depth, digested and analyzed for Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Zink (Zn) and iron (Fe) respectively. The results were compared with control and standard, and subjected to ecological risk indices: Enrichment factor (EF), Contamination factor (CF), and Index of geo-accumulation (Igeo). Metal concentrations were higher (p < 0.05 except Cu) than the control; ranged from 41.2 times (Mn in GD) to 7.08 times (Zn in ID), GD had highest metals except Cu. Metal concentrations at ID > IC (except Cu) and GD> GC. The standard <Cd and Mn,<Zn at GD and ID, and >Cu at GD and GC. The EF was significant (5[≤]EF<20) for Zn at GD and ID, and for Mn except at GD where there was a very high (20[≤]EF<40). Mn and Zn indicated high contamination (Cf[≥]6) at GD and ID while Cd and Fe indicated moderate contamination (1[≤]Cf<3) except at IC (Cf<1). Moderately polluted (1<Igeo[≤]2) effects were shown by Fe except at IC and Mn at GD and GC. Conclusively, it was found that the Dumpsites contributed to soil metal loads and ecological risk.