Urban water pollution by heavy metals and health implication in Onitsha, Nigeria

Abstract

Studies of common heavy metals were conducted at Onitsha, Anambra State, the most urbanized city in Southeastern Nigeria. It was discovered that both surface and subsurface water were heavily polluted. Seven (7) heavy metals namely: arsenic (As +2), cadmium (Cd +2), lead (Pb +2), mercury (Hg +2), zinc (Zn +2), copper (Cu +2) and iron (Fe +2) were studied. Their major sources include wastes like refuse dumps, effluent from industries, sewage, fuel spills from dumps and mechanic workshops, hospital and pharmaceutical wastes, agricultural materials, fossil fuel combustion, metallurgical industries, electronic components and semiconductors , batteries, pigments and paints. Further data were collected in ongoing research works in the area and public enlightenment was done in a small scale. Recommendations are made to government to note the impending dangers of further urban environmental pollution by these trace metals.

Health risk assessment, water quality indices and reproductive hormone profile among Abakpa citizens in Enugu metropolis

“…Lead has the ability to inhibit or mimic the actions of calcium and to interact with proteins (Flora et al, 2006) [15] . The high concentration of mercury recorded in this study samples A1 and A2 which is far above the WHO and SON permissible limit in drinking water as reported in Table 3 [13] , result on mercury concentration falls within the range observed in the present study. Both in men and in women, mercury has a detrimental effect on fertility (Sukhn et al, 2018;Maeda et al, 2019) [31,22] Infertility in women is influence by a hormonal imbalance brought on by Hg exposure.…”

Ecological integrity of a medium‐sized river of a lake basin towards ecosystem health management

“…For instance, discontinuous TN levels may be attributed to varying farming intensities practised in the river catchment areas accompanied by use of nitrogen and phosphorus based fertilizers (Byrnes, 1990). High electrical conductivity and TDS values recorded at Kebirigo station may be attributed to car washing in the river and metal works (Ezeabasili et al., 2015) practised at the nearby Kebirigo trading centre. Disjunct dissolved oxygen distribution may be attributed to varying water temperatures and velocities at various sections of the river and physical features like waterfall which can increase DO through enhanced diffusion of atmospheric oxygen into the water (Uchrin et al., 1985).…”

“…For instance, discontinuous TN levels may be attributed to varying farming intensities practised in the river catchment areas accompanied by use of nitrogen and phosphorus based fertilizers (Byrnes, 1990). High electrical conductivity and TDS values recorded at Kebirigo station may be attributed to car washing in the river and metal works (Ezeabasili et al, 2015) practised at the nearby Kebirigo trading centre.…”

Predictive Model for Leachate Contamination of Groundwater around a municipal Waste Dump: Case Study of Obosi, Southeastern Nigeria

“…Many researchers have also carried out investigations on the state of groundwater within Anambra state. Most of these studies are limited to spot measurements used for baseline studies (Egboka et al 1983;Ezeabasili et al 2015;Ezeabasili et al 2014;Ogbukagu, 1986;etc). However, none of these studies proposed or used any simulation model capable of modeling leachate contamination pathways and dynamics.…”