Abstract

This study was to provide information on the level of pollution caused by heavy metal accumulation as a result of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) deposition on soils in a peri-urban waste site in Ghana. The results were compared with those of the native soil (control). The research consisted of field survey/study and laboratory analyses. The heavy metals determined included copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and iron (Fe). Geochemical pollution indices were used to assess the level of pollution of the soil due to heavy metal concentration as impacted by MSW disposal and their possible effects on agriculture and livelihood. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Hg with Fe as the reference element were compared to their respective background concentrations to calculate the enrichment factor, ecological risk factor, geo-accumulation and pollution load indices of each. These were compared to standard values to determine the levels of contamination. The mean concentration of Pb and Hg in the waste dump site were 41.82 mg/kg and 7.38 mg/kg, respectively, which were significantly higher than 5.18 mg/kg (Pb) and 1.73 mg/kg (Hg) for the control site. The Pb and Hg values at the waste dump site as well as the Hg value at the native (control) site were higher than the range, 0.05-0.5 mg/kg that should be contained in a typical soil. Moreover, the ecological risk factor computed indicated high potential ecological risk posed by Hg and Cu whereas Pb posed moderate potential ecological risk. The results showed the level of toxicity that can be caused by these metals (especially Hg) and the major threat they pose to agriculture and environmental quality.

Keywords:

Ecological risk factor, enrichment factor, geo-accumulation, heavy metal concentration, pollution load indices,

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