Volume 10, Issue 2, October 2014, Pages 329–336
Shalom U. Onwuka1 and Chukwuebuka C. Okafor2
1 Department of Environmental Management, P.M.B5045, Nnamdi Azikiwe Univeristy, Anambra State, Nigeria
2 Department of Environmental Management, P.M.B5045, Nnamdi Azikiwe Univeristy, Anambra State, Nigeria
Original language: English
Copyright © 2014 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The presence of heavy metals in water is widespread, affecting hundreds of cities. In high dosages, these heavy metals are toxic to human, even deadly. The study was therefore aimed at investigating the heavy metal concentration on the groundwater of Enugu. Three (3) groundwater samples each were collected from Coal Camp and Abakpa Nike and the samples acidified with drop of nitric acid before it was sent for analysis at Union Recycling Plant, Ibeto Group of Companies, Nnewi, Anambra State. The analyzed heavy metals are: As, Cr, Pb, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mg, Cd and Hg. The results revealed heavy metal contamination of the groundwater of the area. The study tested whether there is significant difference between the selected heavy metals concentration from that of W.H.O standard. When compared with WHO standard, As, Cr, Pb and Hg of the groundwater of Coal Camp showed significant difference, whereas that of Abakpa Nike showed no significant difference with the standard. To remediate the effects of the polluted water in some parts of the area, it is recommended that a systematic study of the heavy metals concentrations in groundwater sources should be carried out regularly. This is very imperative as the inhabitants of the area depend on groundwater for drinking purposes. More importantly, mass awareness should be generated about the effects of improper and careless waste disposal on water quality and human health.
Author Keywords: industrial, Pollutants, contamination, health, safety.
Shalom U. Onwuka1 and Chukwuebuka C. Okafor2
1 Department of Environmental Management, P.M.B5045, Nnamdi Azikiwe Univeristy, Anambra State, Nigeria
2 Department of Environmental Management, P.M.B5045, Nnamdi Azikiwe Univeristy, Anambra State, Nigeria
Original language: English
Copyright © 2014 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
The presence of heavy metals in water is widespread, affecting hundreds of cities. In high dosages, these heavy metals are toxic to human, even deadly. The study was therefore aimed at investigating the heavy metal concentration on the groundwater of Enugu. Three (3) groundwater samples each were collected from Coal Camp and Abakpa Nike and the samples acidified with drop of nitric acid before it was sent for analysis at Union Recycling Plant, Ibeto Group of Companies, Nnewi, Anambra State. The analyzed heavy metals are: As, Cr, Pb, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mg, Cd and Hg. The results revealed heavy metal contamination of the groundwater of the area. The study tested whether there is significant difference between the selected heavy metals concentration from that of W.H.O standard. When compared with WHO standard, As, Cr, Pb and Hg of the groundwater of Coal Camp showed significant difference, whereas that of Abakpa Nike showed no significant difference with the standard. To remediate the effects of the polluted water in some parts of the area, it is recommended that a systematic study of the heavy metals concentrations in groundwater sources should be carried out regularly. This is very imperative as the inhabitants of the area depend on groundwater for drinking purposes. More importantly, mass awareness should be generated about the effects of improper and careless waste disposal on water quality and human health.
Author Keywords: industrial, Pollutants, contamination, health, safety.
How to Cite this Article
Shalom U. Onwuka and Chukwuebuka C. Okafor, “Investigation of Selected Heavy Metal Concentration in the Groundwater of Coal Camp and Abakpa Nike, Enugu, Nigeria,” International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 329–336, October 2014.
