Abstract: This article is focused on the application of geophysical method for the preliminary assessment of soils contamination around Igwuruta and Eliozu dumpsites in Port Harcourt city. An assembly of geophysical tools was installed in the study locations. Basic components of the assembly include set of geo-electrical cables, four metal electrodes and a resistivity meter. Others were DC source (or battery cell), tape and hammer. Streams of electric currents were sent into subsurface while the resistances were measured in return. The resultant data obtained were processed with the aid of proprietary software (RES2DINV) into 2-D imagery or tomogram. These tomograms were characterized by diverse colored segments ranging from bluish colored zones to reddish-purple colored zones. The significance of these colored zones formed the basis for ERT interpretation. Evidence of pollutants leached into the soil geological strata for the two dumpsites were confirmed in the ERT as low resistivity zones, while those for chemical or landfill gases zones were in the high resistivity zones. However, the nature and concentrations of the pollutants could not be established from the tomograms, hence the need for confirmatory test methods for the dumpsites soils.
Keywords: pollutant, dumpsite soil, leachate plume, electrical resistivity tomogram, solid waste.
Title: Preliminary Assessment of the Extent of Contamination of Selected Dumpsites’ Soil in Port Harcourt Using Geophysical Method
Author: Achadu M. Abah, Obahiagbon, K.O, L.Uyigue
International Journal of Engineering Research and Reviews
ISSN 2348-697X (Online)
Research Publish Journals
