ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT OF HEAVY METAL CONTENT IN SOIL: GUZELYURT DUMPING SITE, NORTH CYPRUS

Rabiu Mahmoud Musa, Muhammad Abubakar Sa’id

ABSTRACT

The soil distribution of heavy metals concentration caused by industrial solid wastes deposited in an open dumping site, the area receives approximately large amount of solid waste from the industrial and municipal solid waste materials. Soil samples were collected from the study area and analyzed at the laboratory from forty five (45) different sampling  points, heavy metals content in the sample is detected and presented by mass concentration in mg/kg, the results indicate the heavy metals content in the soil such as Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd were all detected by using the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer machine, the ratio of these selected heavy metals accumulation in the soil are shows in the following orders of results as Zn range from 33.7mg/kg–1397.96mg/kg, Cu range from 11.18mg/kg–472.9mg/kg, Pb range from 4.6mg/kg–375mg/kg and Cd range from 0–162.8mg/kg in only one soil samples, the ratio shows that Zn>Cu>Pb>Cd in the soil. Contamination by solid waste disposal generally pollutes soil, plants and other micro and macro organisms feed or grazed in the area and pollutes immediate environment, also human health and other living organisms is at risks if the system of wastes disposal is not rectified at open dumping site.

Keyword: Dumping Site, Environment, Heavy Metals, Soil, and Solid Waste.