ABSTRACT

The study was carried out by collecting soil samples, water samples and medical waste incinerator ash samples from the surroundings of Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia. These samples were analyzed in the laboratory for heavy metal concentration in it.Data collected were subjected to ANOVA, and mean values separated with FLSD at P<0.05. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used for data interpretation, grouping of the soil parameters and heavy metals of the soil, groundwater, incinerator ash and open burning sites. Soil samples were collected at different intervals within the incinerator site at (50, 100, 150 meters) apart and 1000 meters away to serve as control point. The pollution load index and Geo-accumulation index levels of the heavy metals in the soil, water, incinerator ash and open dump in Federal Medical Centre Umuahia were determined. The statistical result obtained from the soil, water, incinerator ash and open burning were compared to the NESREA permissible limit for heavy metals. Results of the study revealed that the physical parameters of the soil were over 70% for example sand percentage was between 67.450-75.450%, Silt was low and was between 6.00-8.00% and clay concentrations was between 16.600-25.550%.The chemical properties of the soil revealed that pH value where near neutral at (5.150 ± 0.00 – 5.900 ± 0.07) for R1 and (5.250 ± 0.00 – 6.400 ± 0.07) for R2. The organic manure (OM) was between (0.6950 ± 0.01 – 1.8500 ± 0.07) for R1 and (0.4150 ± 0.01 – 13.850 ± 0.01) for R2. Heavy metals concentration in soil, ground water and incenerator ash were determined. In groundwater, copper, zinc, manganese, chromium, cadmium, lead was all above the permissible limits of drinking water quality of standard organization of Nigeria. For the incinerator ash, the study revealed zinc (Zn) and manganese were above NESREA permissible limit and is between 11.520 ± 0.05 for R1 and 11.900 ± 1.20 R2 for zinc and 4.300 ± 5.43 R1 and 4.100 ± 0.50 R2 for manganese. While in the open dump site zinc and manganese were above the permissible limit of NESREA for zinc is between 7.0150 ± 0.01 for R1 and 9.0021 ± 0.00 for R2 and 6.0805 ± 0.01 for R3 while (Mg) is between 1.4050 ± 0.01 for R1, 3.0700 ± 0.00 R2 and 2.5050 ± 0.01 R3. For the principle component analysis it  recorded cumulative percentage of 72.011% for soil physical properties and 86.134% for soil chemical properties, 79.26% for borehole water, 83.69% for hospital incinerator ash, 81.84% for soil at graded distance and 97.29% for open burning. From the result the soil of the studied areas are at high risk of more contamination from heavy metals. This is given in low medium values of organic matter, clay and pH values that encourage the mobility of heavy metal in the soils. The management of Federal Medical Centre Umuahia should take advantage of the new method of medical waste treatment to advert the effect of medical waste flue-gas on soil, groundwater, from incinerator bottom ash and fly ash contamination.