Studies in the Heavy Metal Content in Soil Hospital Waste Dumpsite

Abstract

Soil samples were collected from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) dumpsite and from Edo Development and Property Agency (EDPA) dumpsite which served as the control site. Samples were analyzed for Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Fe andMn. Samples were collected every week for six months (January- June). The values mean concentrations of heavy metals: Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Fe and Mn determined using AAS are 8.223±0.621 mg/L, 1.435±0.302 mg/L, 0.547±0.133 mg/L, 2.788±0.212 mg/L, 108.608±18.317 mg/L, 4.418±0.566 mg/L for the control site, 18.727±1.397 mg/L, 2.093±0.236 mg/L, 0.772 ±0.134 mg/L, 4.972±0.552 mg/L, 191.337±29.524 mg/L, 8.052±1.078 mg/L for the dumpsite and 46.008±6.463 mg/L, 4.062±0.861 mg/L, 1.985±0.409 mg/L, 12.747±1.661 mg/L, 1833.667±364.014 mg/L, 19.797±2.980 mg/L for the incinerator site. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for analysis of data, a probability of <0.05 was considered as significant. P-values of Zn=0, Pb=0, Cd=0, Cr=0, Fe=0 and Mn = 0.40897. With the P-values <0.05. The various site/location have significant effect on the mean concentrations of the various heavy metals except for Mn, the various site/location had no effect on the mean concentration of Mn. There is a clear case of pollution since the results from the site/locations were higher than control site. Heavy metal concentrations in soil were lower than WHO maximum allowed limits. The soil at the adopted medical incinerator (dumpsite) had higher concentrations of heavy metals than the soil around the dumpsite