Heavy Metal Concentrations in plants growing on Solid Waste Disposal Site, Oja-Oba, Lagos State

Abstract The study investigated the heavy metal concentration in plants obtained from Oja-Oba; one of the solid waste disposal sites in Lagos, Nigeria. Plant samples were collected and then analyzed for heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The findings from the study showed that the studied plants bio accumulated lead, copper and cadmium. For instance, 0.34± 0.05 lead concentration and 0.27± 0.05 cadmium concentration respectively, were found in Capscicum frutenscens. In this same plant, the concentrations of copper was below the acceptable limit. Also, the concentrations of lead, copper and cadmium in other studied plants were found to be below the WHO maximum permissible limit. This implies that poor waste management and accumulation of tons of solid waste in the dumpsite negatively affects soil quality, plants that are likely to grow on the dumpsites as well as animals within the food chain that would feed on such plants. Hence, the resultant effects could pose serious threat to human and animal health due to possible bioaccumulation and bio magnifications through plant uptake from the soil. It was recommended that proper waste management using the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle), appropriate environmental laws must be in place and sanitary landfills should be available to ensure the sustainability of the environment. Keywords: Bioaccumulation, concentrations, dumpsite, heavy metals, solid waste