Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate heavy metal concentrations in soil samples collected from Bahir Dar City Sebatamet solid waste disposal site and to compare the observed values with the regulatory limits. This study also aimed to determine the pollution levels using tools like contamination factor and pollution load index. Soil samples were collected from Bahir Dar City Sebatamet solid waste disposal site. A total of four soil samples were collected. Three samples from waste disposal site as corners of equilateral triangle and one control sample 50 m far from waste disposal site. This control sample is taken purposely so as to assess the dispersion of heavy metals to nearby environment. In the laboratory soil samples were air dried to remove the moisture and other organic matters. 0.5 g of the sample was digested into HNO3 (67%) and HCl (37%) and ICP-OES was used to analyze the concentrations of the heavy metals. The order of heavy metal concentrations is Mn> Zn>Cu>Ni. The results of analysis showed that the mean concentration of metals was Ni (22.18) Zn (260.85) Mn (411.31) and Cu (150.15) mg/kg for contaminated soils but Arsenic concentration is not detected. Calibration curves showed a good linearity for all elements (R2>0.9998). Recoveries were in the range of 95-99.2%
Keywords: ICP- OES, Heavy metal, Waste disposal, Contamination