GREENER JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH

ISSN: 2276-7835      ICV: 5.62

Submitted: 12/01/2017                       Accepted: 16/01/2017                          Published: 30/05/2017

Research Article (DOI: http://doi.org/10.15580/GJSETR.2017.2.011217003)

Determination of Physico-Chemical Pollutant Levels in Water Sample from Alau Dam, Borno State, Nigeria

Peter Auta Gwaski¹ and Alhassan Ali Gadam*²

¹Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri, Nigeria.

²Department of Pre-ND Science, Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author’s Email: alhmodubuk@ gmail. com

ABSTRACT

The physico-chemical evaluation of pollutants in water sample from Alau Dam, Borno State was conducted in July, 2014.  The parameters (turbidity, temperature, total dissolved solid (TDS), electrical conductivity (E.C) and pH were determined using standard procedures.  Also heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn and Zn) were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectropheotometry (FAAS).  The results of the analysis showed that temperature was 28.8^oC, total dissolved solid (TDS) was 63ppm, electrical conductivity (E.C) was 130ms/cm, turbidity was 78.0NTU and pH was 7.5.  While the concentration levels of heavy metals were Cd (0.02)mg/l, Cr (0.15)mg/l, Cu (0.48)mg/l, Mn (0.07)mg/l and Zn (0.28)mg/l.  The results showed presence and concentration levels of all the parameters analyzed and were within the maximum levels set by WHO and NAFDAC, except for Cd and Cr that exceeded the permissible limits which are a cause of concern, as consumption of water and other aquatic life from the study area may cause health hazard to human.  Based on the findings, close monitoring, involving human heath risk assessment in relation to environmental pollution of Alau Dam is recommended.

Key words: FAAS, Alau Dam, heavy metal, pollutant and waste water.

INTRODUCTION

Water is essential to all living organisms and in all aspects of human life.  Unfortunately, the availability of quality water has been impacted upon by both natural and anthropogenic sources, leading to poor water quality of productivity and aquatic ecosystems (FAO, 1992).  The rapid industrialization coupled with technological advances in agriculture, have introduced various pollutants (synthetic and organic) into the aquatic ecosystem, which serves as the ultimate sink for most metals (Ogbeibu and Ezeunara, 2002).  The provision of water for domestic and other uses in rural and urban centers is one of the most intractable problems in Nigeria today.  Access to adequate water of good quality is essential to health, food production and sustainable development.  Every human use of water, whether for drinking, irrigation and industrial processes or for recreation has some minimum quality requirements in order to make it acceptable in which the quality criterion can be described in terms of physical, chemical and biological properties of such water.  According to the World Commission on Water for the 21^st Century, more than half of the world’s major rivers, lakes and streams are depleted and polluted, that they endanger human health and poison surrounding ecosystems (Inter-Press, 1999).  The sources of water pollution vary and involve almost every significant human activity which includes dumping of domestic wastes, sewage, agricultural wastes and industrial influents into water bodies contaminating it and becoming toxic and carcinogenic.  Waste water, streams and lakes containing heavy metals are produced by many manufacturing processes and find their way into the environment (Soon et al. 1980, Dasher, 1986, Oguzie, 1996; Ogbeibu and Ezeunara, 2002).  Heavy metals which are chemical elements with specific gravity that is at least five times the specific gravity of water have long been recognized as serious pollutants of the aquatic environment.  These are also natural tree components of the aquatic environment, but background levels in the environment have increased especially in areas where industrial, agricultural and mining activities are widespread (Bryan and Langston, 1992).  Heavy metals released into the environment find their way into the aquatic system as a result of direct input, atmospheric deposition and surface runoffs.  The increased use of metal-based fertilizer in agricultural revolution has resulted in continued rise in concentration of metal pollution in fresh water reservoir due to water runoff.  Also faecal pollution of drinking water causes water borne diseases which lead to the death of millions of people both in cities and villages (Asaolu, 1998).  Discharge of toxic metals into the lake from intensive agricultural activities (fishing and farming), domestic water and river water translocation of toxics accumulate in the water bodies and tissues of other aquatic lives posing long-term toxic effects on human health when consumed.  Based on the above, the aim of the study is to evaluate some physico-chemical parameters of water sample from Alau Dam – the study area.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study Area

Borno State is located in the North-Eastern geographical zone of Nigeria between latitude 10^o and 14^oN and longitude 11^o30^’ and 14^o45^’E which lies in the sahelian vegetational belt south of the sahara with less than 600mm of rain annually (World Atlas, 2005).  The major activities practiced in the area are fishing and farming characterized with diverse usage of harmful chemicals (pesticides and herbicides).  Sample of water was collected from Alau dam where fishing and farming activities were intensively practiced.

Sample and Sampling

Surface water sample was collected from the study area at four established locations at the depth of 15cm in the month of July 2014.  Sampling procedures was guided by details (Radojevic and Bashkin, 2006).  The water sample was collected in pre-cleaned plastic container, labeled and preserved in the refrigerator at 30^oC to prevent breakdown of chemical by UV-light before analysis.

Sample Preparation

Water sample collected for heavy metals determination was digested (Radojevic and Bashkin, 2006).  Accurately, 100cm³ of water sample was measured and transferred in 250cm³ beaker and was acidified with 5cm³ conc. HNO₃.  It was then heated to evaporation on a hot plate for 10 minutes to 20cm³ and further acidified by adding 60ml conc. HNO₃ and 40ml conc. HClO₄ in the ratio 3:2.  The mixture was heated almost to clear solution.  The resultant volume was cooled, filtered and made up to 100cm³ mark of volumetric flask with distilled water.  Also sample blank was simultaneously prepared.

Analysis of Samples

Determination of temperature (^oC) and pH of surface water

Temperature and pH of surface water were determined on site.  The Elico (CL 513) digital pH meter was calibrated using buffers of pH 4.0, 7.0 and 10.0 for the determination of pH.  Glass bulb mercury thermometer was calibrated by a two-phase system test using ice water at O^oC.

Determination of Total Dissolved Solids

It was determined by pipetting 200ml of a thoroughly mixed sample and filterate through a glass fibre filter with applied vacuum.  The sample was washed with three successive 10cm³ of reagent grade distilled water.  The filterate was evaporated and weighed on an evaporating dish to dryness in an oven for 1 hour at 160^oC, cooled in a dessicator to a stable temperature and weighed.  Similarly, the circle of drying, cooling and weighing continued until a constant weight was obtained.  TDS was estimated as:

            TDS_mg/l =          (A – B) x 1000

                                    Volume of sample (ml)

Where A – is the weight of filter + dried residue and B is weight of filter paper

Determination of Electrical Conductivity (EC)

A sample cell was filled with water sample to 25ml mark, the switch of the HANNA was turned on.  The sensitive probe was inserted into the sample water using the set/hold button scroll to get the parameters, the instrument then displayed the conductivity value.

Determination of Turbidity

The sample cell was thoroughly washed and rinsed with the water sample, then 10ml of the sample was poured and covered.  It was then slot into the chamber of the instrument and the power was turned on, and displayed the reading.

Determination of Metals in Water Sample

The standard method of flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) was employed for determining the heavy metal analytes (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn and Zn) (SC 2000).  The Shimadzu Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer AA-6800 operational with an ASC-6100 auto sampler and air acetylene atomization gas mixture system was used for the analysis.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

DISCUSSION

The table 1 presents the physical parameters of temperature and pH where their levels fall within the acceptable ranges of WHO and NAFDAC for drinking water and aquatic lives.  The values of temperature 28.5^oC and pH 7.5 were in agreement with that presented by Peter et al. 2013).  The values for Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) and electrical conductivity were below the WHO acceptable limits of 100mg/l and 400ms/cm respectively.  However, the value of turbidity was higher than the maximum limit of 5 NTU which could be attributed to both volume and degree of effluents pollution around the Dam.  Also, a similar study was conducted and high turbidity value has been reported at brewery and rubber factory effluents point source of Ikpoba river (Ogbeibu and Ezeunara, 2002; Oguzie, 2003).

Table 2 showed the concentration levels of heavy metals with respect to Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn and Zn.  The heavy metals analysed in the water sample showed varied concentrations with the sequence of metals’ concentrations in the order Cu>Zn>Cr>Mn>Cd.  Copper has the highest concentration level of 0.48mg/l, this could be attributed to dumping of refuse that contain copper base materials and using fertilizer that contain copper.  Also, the high concentration of copper metal in the sample could be due to high organic matter and low dissolved oxygen content, since copper can easily be absorbed on particulate organic matter or aquatic environment (Bryan and Langston, 1992).  It has also been observed that the higher concentration of copper could be as a result of weathering of soil along the river basin (Eneji, 2012).  The concentration level of cadmium has the lowest value of 0.02mg/l which is slightly above the WHO recommended level of 0.005mg/l (Olagire and Imeokparia, 2000).  The values for manganese (Mn) 5.0mg/l and Zinc (Zn) 0.5mg/l were both below the permissible limit set by WHO.  Manganese serves as a component of the enzyme system, bone development and metabolism of fatty acid (Jack, 1994).

Van-Der Berg et al. (1987) reported that organic complexation controls the concentration of dissolved zinc in aquatic environment.  Zinc also is essential for growth of aquatic organisms and its concentration is affected by Plankton communities (Masoud et al. 2005).  Thus, the kinetics of removal of zinc in  aquatic  systems  is  strongly affected by the rates of biological process.  Based on the results of the water sample analysed, Alau Dam is safe for agricultural (fishing and farming) activities but not for human consumption.

CONCLUSION

The results of the study showed that Alau Dam contains varied concentration levels of heavy metals, of which most of the metals analysed were within the permissible limit set by WHO and NAFDAC.  Heavy metal contamination of water of the dam has not reached hazardous levels enough to render the water, fishes and other aquatic organisms unfit for human consumption.  However, because of the short period covered by the study, further studies for a longer period to monitor and assess human health risks in relation to environmental pollution of the dam is strongly recommended.

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Cite this Article: Peter AG and Alhassan AG (2017). Determination of Physico-Chemical Pollutant Levels in Water Sample from Alau Dam, Borno State, Nigeria. Greener Journal of Science Engineering and Technological Research, 7 (2): 025-028, http://doi.org/10.15580/GJSETR.2017.2.011217003