THE IMPACT OF WASTE ON SOIL, WATER AND PLANTS

Six samples of soil were taken from the environment of two public waste dump site (three fom each). Portions of the roots and leaves of plant growing on the refuse dump were equally collected. The soil samples A1 to B3 from the two dumps and represeentatives samples of the leaves and root A4 and A5 and the second site B4 and B5 of the plants growing on the soil samples.The analyzed for their pH and the Ph values ranges between 6.91 to 7.85 respectively under 270c. Acid digestion of the soil samples of the selected dumpsite and the concentration of heavy metals were determined. The results of the analysis shows that in all the dumpsite the range between (0.06 – 6. 68), Cr (0.03 – 1.43), Pb (0.26 – 0.41) Cu (0.10 – 0.56), Mn (0.07 – 2.80), Ni (0 – 0.44) Zn (0.44 2.82), Cd (0 – 0.02). All the above results are given in ppm. This shows that the heavy metal content comes from the refuse dump and such is harmful because of the upland location of sites to adjoining well to streams and also because of the potential use of the dumpsoil for compost purpose by subsistence farmers. The result from the plant showed the heavy metals content of plants, roots were of Fe range between (0.03 – 6.92), Cr (0.01 – 0.32), Pb (0.39 – 0.58), Cu (0.29 – 0.91), Mn (0.82 – 2.86), Ni (ND), Zn (1.09 – 2.34), Cd (0 – 0.01). The results from the plants showed a considerably higher bio-accumulation of heavy metals compared with results obtained from plants which are growing in refuse free areas. The heavy metals content of the plants and roots were alsofound to give a 9.912 X 10-1 correlation, 0.990 alienation with 1% incidence of forecasting.