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ABSTRACT
Environmental degradation issues have been increasing and the intensity of these problems has, at the same time, been aggravating with time. Long-term impairment from heavy metal pollution in this region is regarded as a serious danger to the environment. Therefore, an assessment of the concentration of heavymetals in soil and groundwater (boreholes and hand-dug wells) in Ujevwu Community in Udu Area of Southern Nigeria was carriedout. A total of twenty (20) samples were tested for their physico-chemical characteristics using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results of the physicochemical analysis revealed tha the soil pH was slightly acidic (5.28-5.46), which makes them more conducive for heavy metals mobility. Also, Cu(5.52-7.92)mg/kg, Pb(4.14- 5.94)mg/kg, Mn(4.97-7.13)mg/kg, Fe(62.9-94.39)mg/kg,Zn(2.21-3.17)mg/kg,
Ni(8.28-11.88)mg/kg,Cr(12.28-18.22)mg/kg were all above the control values for soil. World Health Organisation (WHO) and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) was used as a standard to assess the concentration and level of these heavy metals in ground water. Manganese exceeded the WHO permissible limits in ground water. Lead exceeded the permissible limit of NSDWQ except for that of borehole 2 which was not detected. Fe and Ni exceeded both the WHO and NSDWQ limits more in hand-dug wells largely due to poor casing. Results of combined heavy metal concentration and assessment indicates that indiscriminate dumping of waste, traffic emissions, industrial activities represent the most important sources of contamination. Recommendations on possible ways of monitoring and controlling the introduction and distribution of these metals into soil and groundwater includes; public awareness against indiscriminate waste disposal and effluent discharge into the environment should be emphasized, continuous assessment andmonitoring of heavy metal level in the soil and groundwater due to anthropogenic activities.
