Evaluation of the Heavy Metal Contents of Soil and Zea- Mays (Corn) Grown in Gosa Dumpsite of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja

Decayed and composted waste enhance soil fertility which is why most dumpsites in urban and su-urban centers in Nigeria use dumpsites as farmland but These wastes often contain heavy metals in various forms and at different contamination levels. Contamination of vegetables and other foodstuffs by heavy metals is a major concern as the use of open solid waste dumpsites for cultivation of vegetables and edible fruits is practiced without consideration for the health hazards this may cause to humans and animals thus leading to an urgent need to conduct studies in heavy metal contamination of food crop grown in GOSA dumpsite. ) The aim of this study was to evaluate the heavy metal content of the soil and Zeamays (Corn) grown within Gosa dumpsite. Purposive and line transect technique was applied. Twenty three (23) elements were tested in the soil and corn (Zea mays) with the aid of an XRF instrument, it was observed The most concentrated metals at the dumpsite (Gosa) are Al, Si, P, Ca and Cu while the least concentrated are Cr, Mn, Ni, Cd, Ba. Soils in the various dumpsites have high concentration of heavy metals than its counterpart agricultural land.