Abstract

Background:
Heavy metals are one of the greatest environmental challenges worldwide. They can move to food chains from contaminated soil, water, and air, threatening human and animal health. Antibiotic resistance has become a major health challenge due to its use and misuse, and resistance to antibiotics by bacteria is due to changes in the genetic makeup.

Aim:
This study aimed to determine the antibiotics and metal sensitivity of bacteria isolated from metal scrap dumping site.

Methods:
Samples were collected from Ita-Elepa and Sango within the Ilorin metropolis. Microbiological and physicochemical analyses of the samples were performed, and the bacteria isolated were subjected to biochemical, antibiotic sensitivity, and molecular techniques for identification.

Results:
Samples from Ita-Elepa had the highest total viable count compared with those from Sango. Ofloxacin and gentamicin were the most active antibiotics. The organisms were molecularly identified as Pseudomonas sp., Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Leclercia spp., Morganella morgannii, and Enterobacter mori. The physicochemical parameters such as temperature, pH, moisture content, organic carbon, and organic matter of both samples were recorded. The metals detected were zinc, lead, manganese, cadmium, and copper in mgkg-1.

Conclusion:
The isolated organisms are tolerant to some metals at higher concentration and can therefore be used for bioremediation of metal-contaminated soil.

Key words: Antibiotics sensitivity, Bacteria, Metal analysis, Molecular techniques, Soil