Effects of abattoir effluent and dumpsite on the physicochemical properties and heavy metal levels of soil and water within ogbor hill, Aba.

Abstract

The physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal concentrations of the soil and water in Ogbor Hill, Aba were examined in relation to the effects of abattoir effluent and dumpsite. Samples were taken from the water in a borehole, an abattoir, and a dumpsite. These samples’ physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal concentrations were identified. The results showed that the borehole water had nickel and iron at concentrations of 0.15±0.07 mg/kg and 0.18±0.09 mg/kg, respectively, but no copper or lead. Iron levels in soil samples ranged from 4990.87±41.88 mg/kg to 5087.24±72.18 mg/kg, whereas those in wastewater samples ranged from 69.91±12.36 mg/kg to 569.57±38.64 mg/kg. The wastewater samples’ pH levels ranged from 6.35±0.21 to 6.5±0.00. The conductivity varied between 344±0.41 and 13538±0.83 uS/cm. Turbidity varied from 1.05±0.07 to 35.8±0.28 NTU, while the chloride ranged from 189.57±2.13 to 528.95±5.02 mg/L. The ranges for the biochemical and chemical oxygen demands were 20±1.13 mg/L to 120±1.13 mg/L and 65.6 ±2.26 mg/L to 319.6 ±0.57 mg/L, respectively. The soil’s pH ranged from 5.75±0.07 to 8.45±0.07, and its nitrogen level varied from 0.35±0.01 to 0.44±0.01 %. Sulfur levels ranged from 0.03±0.01 to 0.05±0.01 %. These results demonstrate that the abattoir and the dumpsite have not adversely affected borehole water, but the opposite is true of soil, according to WHO (2004) guidelines.