Nine metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cd, Pb, Hg, Cr, and Zn) were determined in soil and Digitaria eriantha plants within the vicinity of three coal power plants (Matla, Lethabo, and Rooiwal), using ICP-OES and GFAAS. The total metal concentration in soil ranged from 0.05 ± 0.02 to 1836 ± 70 μg g(-1), 0.08 ± 0.05 to 1744 ± 29 μg g(-1), and 0.07 ± 0.04 to 1735 ± 91 μg g(-1) in Matla, Lethabo, and Rooiwal, respectively. Total metal concentration in the plant (D. eriantha) ranged from 0.005 ± 0.003 to 535 ± 43 μg g(-1) in Matla, 0.002 ± 0.001 to 400 ± 269 μg g(-1) in Lethabo, and 0.002 ± 0.001 to 4277 ± 201 μg g(-1) in Rooiwal. Accumulation factors (A) of less than 1 (i.e., 0.003 to 0.37) at all power plants indicate a low transfer of metal from soil to plant (excluder). Enrichment factor values obtained (2.4-5.0) indicate that the soils are moderately enriched with the exception of Pb that had significant enrichment of 20. Geo-accumulation index (I-geo) values of metals indicate that the soils are moderately polluted (0.005-0.65), except for Pb that showed moderate to strong pollution (1.74-2.53).

The concentrations of metals (Ca, Cd, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry in water, sediments and fish samples in the Ogun river catchments, Ketu, Lagos, which is an important bird nesting, fishing and drinking water source. The results show that the southern tip bothering the Lagos lagoon is where the highest metal concentrations are found in the fish species (Tilapia sp. and Chrysichthys sp.), whereas the Agboyi creek segment near the lagoon with higher surrounding human population density recorded higher levels of metals in sediments and water samples. The two fish species accumulated different amounts of metals. However, the differences were not statistically different at p < 0.05. There is a significant correlation (p < 0.05) for Cd concentration in water. The concentrations of Pb in sampling points 3 and 4 as well as Cd, Mn and Fe in all six sampling points exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) limits for drinking water. Levels of metals obtained for sediments are within the range reported for Nigeria's river sediments. Based on this study, the human risks for heavy metals in the harvested fish species from the Ogun river catchments, Ketu, are low for now as the concentrations were below the recommended Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) maximum limits for Pb (0.5 mg/Kg), Cd (0.5 mg/Kg), and Zn (30 mg/Kg) in fish.

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The detection and quantification of four phthalate esters-dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)-in water, sediment, and some fish species were carried out using flame ionization gas chromatography. The samples were collected from the Ogun river catchments, Ketu, Lagos. The DMP was not detected in the water and fish samples but was detected in sediments collected from four of the six sampling sites. The concentration of DEP, DBP, and DEHP in the fish species ranged from 320.0-810.0, 380.0-1,080.0, and 40.0-150.0 μg/kg in Tilapia sp.; 310.0-860.0, 400.0-1,170.0, and 40.0-110.0 μg/kg in Chrysichthys sp.; and 320.0-810.0, 400.0-3,970.0, and 30.0-300.0 μg/kg (DEHP) in Synodontis sp.,respectively. The differences in fish phthalate levels are not statistically significant at p < 0.05, an indication that phthalate esters accumulation is not fish species dependent. The DEP, DBP, and DEHP values recorded are considerably higher than the maximum allowed concentrations for drinking water prescribed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The phthalate pollution index and biosediment accumulation factor values were also calculated.

Background: This work reports the determination of the levels of phthalate esters (dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP)) and metals (lead, cadmium, manganese, zinc, iron, calcium) in composite soil samples. The soil samples were collected randomly within the Muledane open dump, Thohoyandou, Limpopo province, South Africa. Control samples were collected about 200 m away from the open dump. The phthalate esters were separated and determined by capillary gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector, whilst the metals were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

The distribution and potential sources of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils in the vicinity of three South African coal-fired power plants were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. PAH compound ratios such as phenanthrene/phenanthrene + anthracene (Phen/Phen + Anth) were used to provide reliable estimation of emission sources. The total PAH concentration in the soils around three power plants ranged from 9.73 to 61.24 μg g(-1), a range above the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry levels of 1.0 μg g(-1) for significantly contaminated site. Calculated values of Phen/Phen + Anth ratio were 0.48 ± 0.08, 0.44 ± 0.05, and 0.38 + 0.04 for Matla, Lethabo, and Rooiwal, respectively. Flouranthene/fluoranthene + pyrene (Flan/Flan + Pyr) were found to be 0.49 ± 0.03 for Matla, 0.44 ± 0.05 for Lethabo, and 0.53 ± 0.08 for Rooiwal. Such values indicate a pyrolytic source of PAHs. Higher molecular weight PAHs (five to six rings) were predominant, suggesting coal combustion sources. A good correlation existed between most of the PAHs implying that these compounds were emitted from similar sources. The carcinogenic potency B[a]P equivalent concentration (B[a] Peq) at the three power plants ranged from 3.61 to 25.25 indicating a high carcinogenic burden. The highest (B[a] Peq) was found in samples collected around Matla power station. It can therefore be concluded that the soils were contaminated with PAHs originating from coal-fired power stations.

Samples of borehole water were randomly collected from twenty households in the Lagos-Ogun axis of southwestern Nigeria. The samples were analyzed for silver, iron, manganese, lead, nickel, magnesium, cadmium, zinc, sodium, potassium, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, alkalinity, total hardness, chloride, nitrate and sulphate following standard methods of water analysis. Results obtained were compared with global background values and WHO guidelines for drinking water. The pH values ranged from 4.17 ± 0.26 to 6.07 ± 0.27 while the metal pollution indexes are between 0.01 and 0.11. Cadmium, manganese, iron and nitrate (mg/L) levels were found to be relatively high in most of the water samples. Results obtained were analyzed statistically. Health risk assessment for exposure to cancer and non-cancer indices was evaluated. Kempster and co-workers classification of drinking water quality was applied; nineteen of the twenty household water samples were found to fall short of the ideal water quality suitable for lifetime use.

The persistent problem of water scarcity with the ever increasing demand of water has necessitated the reuse of effluent in agriculture. The present study evaluated the reuse of treated waste water and bioaccumulation properties of two fish species from a manmade lake. Trace metals content of two fish species: Clarias gariepinus and Cyprinus carpio and levels of trace metals from waste water in the lake where the fish species were harvested were determined by Inductive Couple Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). The trace metal values from fish samples ranged between 0.45-4.41 microg g(-1) for Cu, 16.45-72.23 microg g(-1) for Zn, 1.92-4.71 microg g(-1) for Cr, 2.45-5.65 microg g(-1) for Ni, 10.23-44.31 microg g(-1) for Mn, 9.67-46.59 microg g(-1) for Fe and 0.12-0.56 microg g(-1) for Pb. The carp exhibited a significantly higher concentration for the trace metals for all the parts analyzed (p<0.01). The levels of trace metals concentration from Cyprinus carpio was in the order liver>gill>muscle>bone and metal accumulation was in the order Zn>Fe>Mn>Cr>Ni >Cu>Pb. The concentration of trace metals such as zinc, iron, chromium and nickel were higher than the recommended legal limits for human consumption. The result revealed that properly treated waste water could be used for the purpose of aquaculture. Clarias gariepinus bio accumulated more trace metals from the lake when compared with Cyprinus carpio.