Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Status in the Soil around the Idu Dumpsite, Abuja, Nigeria
By Otu M. A, Woke, G.N., Edwin-Wosu, N. L.
Environmental pollution studies through risk assessment indicators could enhanced the effectiveness of remediation and environmental sustainability practice of the environment. Through the adoption of indicators such as contamination factor (CF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), enrichment factor (EF), the study carried out an ecological risk assessment of heavy metal (HM) status in the soil around the Idu dumpsite, Abuja, Nigeria. A laboratory technique based on American Public Health Association (APHA) 3030E and American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM 4691) standard and procedure, heavy metal such as Iron (Fe), Arsenic (As), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) were analysed. The finding revealed that the CF of the HM descended as Cd (15.24) > Cu (0.13) > Fe (0.07) > Pb (0.05) > Cr (0.034) > Zn (0.02) > As (0.01), EF descended as Cd (218.38) > Cu (1.90) > Fe (1) > Pb (0.69) > Cr (0.51) > Zn (0.3) > As (0.1), Igeo descended as Cd (3.35) > Cu (-3.50) > Fe (-4.43) > Pb (-4.96) > Cr (-5.40) > Zn (-6.17) > As (-7.81) and risk index (RI) descended as Cd (457.2) > Cu (0.65) > Pb (0.25) > As (0.1) > Fe (0.07) > Cr (0.068) > Zn (0.02). The outcome indicated that among the HM, Cd had very high CF, exceptionally high EF, high pollution Igeo and significantly high environmental risk. The adoption of ecological risk indicators in the assessment of environmental pollution further enhance the approach to effective remediation action and management.