ABSTRACT

 This research was carried out to assess the heavy metal soil physiochemical and mineral associated with hospital waste dumpsites A and B in Benin City.  Soil samples were obtained at the depth of 20cm with the use of soil auger for digging; trowel for fetching and the meter rule for measurement. Four samples were collected at 0, 2, 6 and 30 feet respectively and the fourth was taken far away from the dump at the dumpsite. The same procedure was repeated the second sample collection site. The samples collected were packaged in plastic bags and then taken to the laboratory for preparation and analysis. Selected mineral nutrients (P, N, S, Ca, Mg, K, Na and Nitrate), physiochemical parameters (pH, Electrical conductivity (uS/cm), Organic carbon and Organic Matter) and heavy metal concentrations (Fe, Cu, Mn, Cd and Pb). pH metre was used to measure pH, dry combustion method for soil organic carbon, The loss by ignition method for organic matter, The direct handheld soil conductivity meter tester by Hanna Instruments (model Hi-98331, Groline) for soil electrical conductivity, The heavy metal was analyzed using AAS (Model: 210VGP). The result reviewed that the pH values continued to decrease as the distance increase from the dumpsite, but both controls were more higher than the other samples. The Electrical conductivity, percentage Organic carbon (%) increased across the medical dumpsite A and B.  The percentage Organic Matter (%) decreases far away from dumpsite in A and B locations. The soil micronutrients; phosphorus, nitrogen, sulphur and nitrate were within permissible limits in dumpsite in A and B.  The heavy metals; calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, iron, cadmium, lead were within permissible limits. Medical waste dumpsites have a significant impact in the environment which could be positive or negative. This means that there should be a kind of measure taken in order to safely dispose of our refuse to prevent the general public from being exposed to unnecessary hazards.