HEAVY METAL POLLUTION IN SOIL AND SUBTERRANEAN FAUNA WITHIN OLUSOSUN LANDFILL, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Landfills are major sites for solid waste disposal in Nigeria and pose significant environmental and public health risks due to the potential release of toxic heavy metals into surrounding ecosystems. Olusosun Landfill in Ojota, Lagos State, has operated since 1978 and receives substantial quantities of assorted waste. The accumulation of heavy metals in landfill soils, subterranean animals, and underground water may threaten environmental quality and human health. Subterranean animals are particularly important in environmental monitoring because they inhabit underground environments and may accumulate heavy metals from contaminated soils. However, limited studies have investigated heavy metal concentrations in these organisms and their surrounding environments at Olusosun Landfill. This study focuses on assessing heavy metal concentrations in soil and selected subterranean animals within the landfill environment. It also highlights the importance of examining relationships between heavy metal levels in environmental samples to identify potential contamination sources and determine patterns of metal accumulation. The findings are expected to contribute to understanding the extent of heavy metal contamination around the landfill and provide useful information for environmental monitoring, waste management, and pollution control strategies in Lagos State, Nigeria