Studies on the impact of municipal waste dumps on surrounding soil and air quality of two cities in northern Nigeria

Atmospheric pollution from municipal refuse dumps and vehicular traffic are matters of growing interest, often leading to temporary restrictions in urban areas. This study aimed at evaluating bioaccumulation and effects caused by airborne pollutants from refuse dumps. Specimens of the moss Funaria capsularis collected in five sites in the urban areas of Zaria and Kaduna, Nigeria and trace metals (cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead and zinc) were measured. The overall results of this exploratory study suggest the utility of F. capsularis as a lower plant for biomonitoring the environmental impact of atmospheric pollution in urban areas. The impact of these dump sites on surrounding soils was also studied. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information.