Evaluation of heavy metal content and potential ecological risks in soil samples from wild solid waste dumpsites in developing country under tropical conditions

Solid waste management constitutes a major concern and unresolved problem in most parts of the world, particularly developing countries where solid is disposed unregulated dumpsites public spaces. This practice can lead to contamination environmental compartments such as soil, surface groundwater which could negatively impact human health. In this study, soil samples were collected from 15 selected Kinshasa City (Democratic Republic Congo) examine heavy metal content potential risks. The results highlighted high concentration metals compared local background values international threshold. average all followed generally order: Zn>Pb > Cu >Cr> Co> Cd> As> Hg. calculated pollution indexes including Geo-accumulation, Enrichment Factor, Contamination degree Potential Ecological Risk, revealed polymetallic dominated by several these Zn, Cu, Pb Hg greatest indicating work showed that illegal wild landfills represent real danger for environment Due toxicity metals, measures establish monitoring program address uncontrolled disposal are recommended reduce load contaminants soils reach groundwater. On other hand, use manures agricultural purposes should be discouraged because they may easily absorbed at alarming levels vegetables.