Physicochemical Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Drinking Water Sources in Okoroette Community, Eastern Coast of Nigeria

Abstract

The coastal region of Nigeria has witnessed intense anthropogenic activities that have overtime necessitated several environmental monitoring campaigns to ascertain impacts and proffer remedial solutions. In the present study, standard analytical protocols were employed to assess the physicochemical parameters, trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels of ground and surface water used for drinking purposes in Okoroette community in Nigeria. The results obtained show that investigated parameters varied widely and were generally higher in the surface water samples collected during the dry season. The levels of most of the physicochemical parameters recorded were acceptable when compared with Nigerian Standards for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) except for turbidity and dissolved oxygen. In both ground and surface waters, the following trace metals exceeded the NSDWQ permissible limits: Pb, Cd, Fe, and Mn. The total mean level of PAHs (> 1.0 mg/l) in both ground and surface water samples exceeded the acceptable level when compared with the NSDWQ guideline value of 0.007 mg/l. The health risk assessment applied on trace metal levels reveal that there is significant potential toxic risk to exposed individuals as calculated hazard indexes (HI) were greater than one. Results from Water Quality Indices (WQI) modelling reveal that the water sources in the community were generally categorised as poor quality or unfit for drinking purposes. Chemometric characterisation of the water quality indicators revealed that some of the contaminants may be of geogenic, anthropogenic organic in origin. The study reveals that drinking water sources in Okoroette community are not suitable for consumption and domestic use therefore treatment is highly and urgently recommended to safeguard public health.

Quality Assessment of Some Springs in the Awing Community, Northwest Cameroon, and Their Health Implications

“…The lower temperatures recorded in the dry season compared to the rainy season may be due to the fact that the climatic conditions of the area permit a general decrease in temperature during the early morning hours of the dry season as compared to the rainy season. All the values fell within WHO acceptable limit (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25) ∘ C). The electrical conductivity levels of all the samples ranged from 0.03 to 1.6 mS/cm (Table 2).…”

“…A single WQI value makes information more easily and rapidly understood than a long list of numerical values for a large variety of parameters. More so, WQI also facilitates comparison between different sampling sites and events [15][16][17][18]. The following steps were used for determining the WQI [18].…”

“…More so, WQI also facilitates comparison between different sampling sites and events [15][16][17][18]. The following steps were used for determining the WQI [18]. In the first step, the unit weight ( ) for each water quality parameter was determined using the following formula:…”

Physicochemistry of Iko River Channel in Nigeria and the Related Human Health Problems

“…It has been reported that the people in Iko lack access to potable water as their water sources have been seriously polluted by the activities of oil companies in the area 14 . Studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic activities on the microbial loads of the studied Iko River [15][16][17] .…”

Impact of Toxicants in Drinking Water Within Para-Mining Communities in Ghana

“…In Ghana, myriad of legal and uncontrolled mining activities has resulted in increased levels of these toxicants in the human ecosystem [33]. Surface water bodies have been destroyed through these activities which have rendered them unhealthy for human intake.…”