Greener Journal of Physical Sciences

Greener Journal of  Physical Sciences  Vol. 4 (2), pp. 030-037, March 2014.  

ISSN: 2276-7851 © 2011 Greener Journals

Research Paper

Manuscript Number: 011614041

 

A Preliminary Assessment of Phenol Contamination of Isebo River in

South-western Nigeria

 

 Omotayo Ayeni

 

Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, 

United Kingdom.

 

Email: omotayoayeni @ yahoo.com

Abstract:

Wastewater samples were collected from the point of discharge at the various sites in an industrial area in Ibadan, Nigeria in order to determine and quantify the presence of phenols and their toxicity levels in the laboratory. Similarly, water samples were collected from Isebo River near the industrial area to determine the chemical status of the river with respect to phenolic contamination. Phenol was analysed using Skalar Auto-Analyser (SAA) while the physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and pH were determined using a Symphony SP80PC portable instrument. The results obtained showed higher concentrations of phenols in both water and wastewater samples. The phenol concentrations vary from one sample location to another while the range of values obtained for phenols in water samples is given as 0.05 – 2.11mg/L. The phenol concentration was greater than the permissible limit of 0.001mg/L recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ).
 The coefficient of determination R2 = 0.9816 and 0.9991 of EC and TDS for both the wastewater and water samples shows a good positive correlation between the two parameters while temperature and pH varied anomalously with the recommended standards. This study reveals that the contaminant level of phenols in the water samples collected from the river could pose a huge health hazard to humans. Therefore, the polluting industries have the duty-of-care to manage the raw wastewater being discharged into the natural environment in order to preserve the aesthetic integrity of the water environment and to ensure public safety.
 
Keywords: Phenol, contamination, river Isebo, water, wastewater, WHO, Nigeria.

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