Evaluation of Heavy Metals and Contamination Status of Soil around Abandoned and Active Nigerian Dumpsites

Aim: The study evaluated the heavy metals and contamination status of soil around active abandoned waste dumpsites in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria.
 Methodology: Five samples were collected at topsoil (0-15cm depth) a regular distance 20m, 40m, 60m, 80m 100m from center control plot. analysed for (Cu, Cr, Cd, Fe, Pb Zn), pH total Organic C (TOC) using standard laboratory analyses indices to determine status. Descriptive statistics involving mean deviation used data analysis.
 Results: concentrations Cu, Zn dumpsite was 3.2616mg/kg, 0.3983 mg/kg, 0.2027 6.5785 2.6991mg/kg 12.4111mg/kg respectively while that are 1.3913mg/kg, 0.3693mg/kg, 0.0882mg/kg, 3.6235mg/kg, 0.4158mg/kg 4.0140mg/kg respectively. Hence, both exceeded allowable limit World Health Organisation (WHO). order metal Zn>Fe>Cu>Pb>Cr>Cd. factor follows order: > Cu Cr Fe dumpsites. degree ranged (1612.51 2286.83 26.14 641.46 dumpsite) indicating very high contamination. Modified 46.09 381.14 “ultra-high contamination” 4.36 106.91 ultra-high Pollution Load Index (5.08 8.12 1.63 4.16 polluted with various metals. 
 Conclusion: concentration combined revealed soils contaminated/polluted; hence, pose ecological health-related risk.