Cover Page Determination of Some Heavy Metals in Soil Sample Obtained from University of Benin Power Plant Edo State, Nigeria.

Soil samples collected from University of Benin power plant were analyzed for some heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectrometric method (AAS). The 52 soil samples were prepared and digested using Aqua Regia method. The metals analyzed include: Zinc, Lead, Chromium, Copper and Cadmium. In most of the soil samples analyzed, Zinc occurred at highest level followed by copper. The concentration of lead and cadmium were below detection limit in all the soil samples analyzed. The results of the analysis has shown that some of the heavy metal concentration (lead, chromium, zine and copper) in the soil has exceeded the limit stated by WHO and DUTCH permissible limit. Adequate treatment measure must be carried out on the soil before making use of the soil in order to reduce the concentration of all metals in the soil, the high concentration of all the metals does not make the soil usable for planting.