Evaluation of some heavy metals and physicochemical properties of public refuse dumpsites in Nsukka metropolis, Nigeria Chinenye Maria-Goretti Ohanu & Felicia Nkechi Ekeh & Ifeanyi Benedict Ohanu & Ifeanyi Oscar Nkemdioha Aguzie & Njoku Ivoke Received: 19 December 2019 /Accepted: 23 June 2020 # Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020 Abstract This study assessed some physicochemical properties and heavy metal contamination of four major dumpsites in Nsukka metropolis. Soil samples were collected randomly at depth of 15 cm. Physicochemical properties were determined. Levels of lead, chromium, iron, manganese, zinc, cadmium, and copper were ana- lyzed using atomic absorption spectrophometer (AAS). Soil pH ranged 5.68–6.82, temperature 25.30 – 29.67 ° C, and moisture 2.23–7.66%. Soil particle size distribution had higher percentages of sand 40–55% followed by silt 15–35% and clay 10–30%. Average levels of Pb, Cr, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cd, and Cu from the dumpsites ranged from 0.08 ± 0.04 mg/kg to 1.40 ± 0.15 mg/kg, 0.17 ± 0.09 mg/kg to 1.66 ± 0.87 mg/kg, 14.05 ± 5.13 mg/kg to 21.08 ± 0.01 mg/kg, 4.47 ± 0.54 mg/kg to 16.83 ± 0.80 mg/kg, 9.10 ± 3.05 mg/kg to19.33 ± 0.12 mg/kg, 0.02 ± 0.01 mg/kg to 1.15 ± 0.30 mg/kg, and 0.77 ± 0.26 mg/kg to 7.29 ± 2.65 mg/kg, respectively. Heavy metal profile in the dumpsite soils was Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd. Heavy metal load by dumpsites was Obimo > Ikenga Hotel > UNN > Obukpa. All the heavy metals evaluated except Fe increased as pH, tempera- ture, and sand contents of dumpsite soil increased. Re- tention of Fe by soil was positively related to its clay contents. The values of heavy metals in soils from the dumpsites were far below the permissible limits set by European Regulatory Standard (EURS STD), US Envi- ronmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) for standard soil. The dumpsites require no remediation as at the time of this study. Keywords Bioremediation . Environmental health . Heavy metal . Soil . Waste management Introduction Bioavailability of toxic substances in the environment is fast gaining attention both nationally and globally. Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that have a high atomic weight and a density at least five times greater than that of water (Tchounwou et al. 2012). Heavy metals enter the environment through both natu- ral and anthropogenic sources (Bradl 2005). Natural sources of heavy metals are mainly through weathering of rocks and volcanic eruption. Anthropogenic sources Environ Monit Assess (2020) 192:477 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08450-8 C. M.<G. Ohanu (*) : F. N. Ekeh : I. O. N. Aguzie : N. Ivoke Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria e-mail: chinenye.ohanu@unn.edu.ng F. N. Ekeh e-mail: felicia.ekeh@unn.edu.ng I. O. N. Aguzie e-mail: ifeanyi.aguzie@unn.edu.ng N. Ivoke e-mail: njoku.ivoke@unn.edu.ng I. B. Ohanu Department of Industrial Technical Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria e-mail: ifeanyi.ohanu@unn.edu.ng