availability of metals in soils was also co-determined by the soil pH and soil organic
matter which accounted for the trend of metal concentration at the various dump sites.
For the control sites, the pH ranged from 5.40 - 6.74 and soil organic matter from 3.25%
to 3.40%, while for the dump sites, values of 7.44-10.10 and 5.79% - 7.59% were
obtained for soil pH and soil organic matter respectively. The metal ion concentration in both soil and earthworm samples followed
the trend Pb > Zn > Mn > Cu > Cr > Cd. Dump sites with high levels of Pb were located by roadsides of busy highways.
sites