IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

IIARD INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (IJGEM )

E-ISSN 2504-8821
P-ISSN 2695-1878
VOL. 11 NO. 6 2025
DOI: 10.56201/ijgem.vol.11.no6.2025.pg38.51

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Assessment on Effect of Hospital Wastes on Soil Quality in Uyo Metropolis

Godwin A Usoh, Enobong O Umoh, Emmanuel O Sam, and Edidiong S Akpanudo

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Abstract

The study examined the effect of hospital wastes on soil quality in Uyo Metropolis, Akwa Ibom State. It aimed at examining the effect of hospital wastes on chemical properties and heavy metal content of the soil; it also examined the variability of soil quality in relation to distance from the dumpsite and depth as well as the inter-relationship among soil properties between the dumpsite soil and the control soil. Fifteen composite soil samples were collected from five designated distance from the dumpsite namely 0 m(PT01), 20 m(PT02), 40 m(PT03), 60 m(PT04) and 200 m(Control) away from dumpsite under three designated depth namely 0 – 10 cm, 10 – 20 cm and 20 – 30 cm. The study was replicated in two hospitals namely University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Dumpsite and St. Luke’s Hospital Dumpsite. Samples were collected with soil auger in each dumpsite and transported to the laboratory for analysis. Data obtained from the laboratory analysis were analyzed for means while significant parameters were compared using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of probability. Results showed that mean pH was in the order Control > PT01 > PT04 > PT03 > PT02 with 7.76, 7.59, 7.56, 7.22 and 6.74. Calcium (Ca) followed the order PT03 > PT01 > PT02 > PT04 > Control with 1.38, 1.36, 0.98, 0.89 and 0.59. Distance variability of pH, Mg, N, and Zn was less than 15 % classified as low; that of Ca, K, Fe and Cu was between 15 – 35 % classified as moderate while Cr and Ni exhibit high variability with CV > 35 %. Depth variability of the parameters was generally low except N and Cr which exhibit moderate variability. Only one significant relationship was obtained in dumpsite soil while seven significant relationships were obtained in the control soil environment. It was concluded that hospital wastes have significant effect on the chemical properties of the soil including the heavy metal. It was therefore recommended among others that hazardous w

keywords:

Hospital Wates, Dumpsite, Concentration, Heavy Metal, Composite Samples

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