Contamination Assessment of Trace Metal in Soil and Stream sediments of Ibadan and its Environs, Southwestern Nigeria

High porous nature of soil makes it susceptible to influx of heavy metals that comes from anthropogenic activity. Contamination assessment of heavy metals in soil and sediments was conducted in Ibadan southwestern Nigeria. Samples were randomly collected, sieved and, analysed. Iron (III) oxide (Fe O ) was found to be dominant in the soil and 2 3 stream sediment of the study area. A decreasing order of metals Zn>Pb>Ba>Cu>As>Cd was observed from the soil and stream sediment. Pollution of Zn and Pb in both soil and stream sediments were confirmed by anthropogenic enrichment [soil – Zn (7.9) and Pb (26.7; stream sediment – Zn (3.9) and Pb (7.5)], Index of geoaccumulaton [soil- Zn (2.4) and Pb (4.75); stream sediment Zn (1.4) and Pb (2.3)]. High occurrence of Zn and Pb observed in the study area revealed the influence of anthropogenic activity such as battery making, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and use of leaded paint washed and discarded on the soil that gets leached into the stream sediment of the environment. A well monitored disposal tank must be placed in a central place for people to use by the government and a law enforcement agent should be placed at a strategic position to enforce the law of sanitation