THE IMPACT OF MPAPE DUMPSITE SOLID WASTE LEACHATE ON SOIL QUALITY, ABUJA NIGEIUA

This study examined the impact of dumpsite on soil and plant quality in Mpape, Abuja FCT. The study employed both transect and quadrant techniques in collecting soil and plant samples. The soil samples were taken in both rainy and dry season for three months each at the depth of 0-30cm using soil auger. A total of forty-eight soil sample and thirty-two plant samples were collected, totalling eighty samples in and around Mpape Dumpsite and taken to Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) laboratory in Asokoro Abuja and analyzed to determine the level of heavy metals which included lead, mercury, iron, cadmium, silver and copper, using standard measurements. The result from the laboratory analysis were subjected to : statistical analysis using Analysis of Variance and paired sample t-test to determine the mean difference between the months, seasons and the mean difference between the heavy metals concentration and FEPA limits. From the analysis there was high concentration of heavy metals in Mpape Dumpsite in both raining and dry season. Also, a substantial concentration of the heavy metal is found in the plant samples responsible for the retardation in growth in fruits from the selected plants analyzed.