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ABSTRACT
Soil is one of the repositories for anthropogenic wastes. Heavy metal contamination in the soil is a major concern because of their toxicity and threat to human life and the environment. Soil samples were collected at a depth of 15cm and 30cm and mixed to obtain a composite. The soils from the respective sampling points were characterized in terms of pH, sequential extraction was also carried out to determine the bioavailability of the respective heavy metals. The heavy metal concentrations were determined using atomic absorption Spectrophotometer. The pH from sample site A to sample site D ranged from 4.39 -6.23.Among non-residual fractions, metals are mostly associated with metals with Fe-Mn oxides fraction. The association of heavy metals with organic matter was observed in the following order :Fe>Zn>Cu>Pb. The low concentration of metals in the exchangeable fraction indicates low bioavailability. Also, the association of heavy metals in the carbonate fraction follows the order Zn>Fe>Pb>Cu. The local mean values of the total metal concentration of the different sampling sites were below the maximum permissible limit as given by WHO.
