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Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Groundwater Around Nnewi Industrial Area, Anambra State, Nigeria

Received: 22 February 2023     Accepted: 13 March 2023     Published: 13 April 2023
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Abstract

The influence of water quality from boreholes situated around the Nnewi industrial area was evaluated by assessing the heavy metal concentrations and health risks associated with human exposure. Water samples were collected from 16 different boreholes around eight industries at a monthly interval from May – October 2019 and November 2019 – April 2020 to cover the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. Water samples were analyzed for copper (Cu), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), and arsenic (As) using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Data obtained for both seasons indicate Cu had a mean value of (0.268±0.136 mg/L), Pb (0.014±0.013 mg/L), Fe (0.119±0.133 mg/L), Zn (0.572±0.220 mg/L), Cr (0.051±0.011 mg/L), and As (0.013±0.001 mg/L) respectively. All the heavy metal concentrations of the sampled water were within their various WHO permissible limits except As, Cr and Pb. The pollution index of As, Cr and Pb were greater than 1, showing heavy contamination of the water. Carcinogenic risk assessment of water via ingestion and dermal route for Cr and As were above the recommended safe limit of 1×10-6 which posed a cancer risk. The results show that borehole waters were contaminated with heavy metals in both seasons. It is, therefore, recommended that borehole water from the study areas should be treated before being used for various domestic purposes.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 11, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijema.20231102.11
Page(s) 24-36
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Health Risk, Heavy Metals, Water Quality, Contamination, Borehole Water

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    Nkiruka Charity Eboagu, Vincent Ishmael Egbulefu Ajiwe, Kate Ekwy Ochiagha, Chiedozie Aralu Chukwuemeka, Ebele Joy Morah. (2023). Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Groundwater Around Nnewi Industrial Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 11(2), 24-36. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20231102.11

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    ACS Style

    Nkiruka Charity Eboagu; Vincent Ishmael Egbulefu Ajiwe; Kate Ekwy Ochiagha; Chiedozie Aralu Chukwuemeka; Ebele Joy Morah. Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Groundwater Around Nnewi Industrial Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2023, 11(2), 24-36. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20231102.11

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    AMA Style

    Nkiruka Charity Eboagu, Vincent Ishmael Egbulefu Ajiwe, Kate Ekwy Ochiagha, Chiedozie Aralu Chukwuemeka, Ebele Joy Morah. Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Groundwater Around Nnewi Industrial Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2023;11(2):24-36. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20231102.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijema.20231102.11,
      author = {Nkiruka Charity Eboagu and Vincent Ishmael Egbulefu Ajiwe and Kate Ekwy Ochiagha and Chiedozie Aralu Chukwuemeka and Ebele Joy Morah},
      title = {Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Groundwater Around Nnewi Industrial Area, Anambra State, Nigeria},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
      volume = {11},
      number = {2},
      pages = {24-36},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20231102.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20231102.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20231102.11},
      abstract = {The influence of water quality from boreholes situated around the Nnewi industrial area was evaluated by assessing the heavy metal concentrations and health risks associated with human exposure. Water samples were collected from 16 different boreholes around eight industries at a monthly interval from May – October 2019 and November 2019 – April 2020 to cover the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. Water samples were analyzed for copper (Cu), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), and arsenic (As) using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Data obtained for both seasons indicate Cu had a mean value of (0.268±0.136 mg/L), Pb (0.014±0.013 mg/L), Fe (0.119±0.133 mg/L), Zn (0.572±0.220 mg/L), Cr (0.051±0.011 mg/L), and As (0.013±0.001 mg/L) respectively. All the heavy metal concentrations of the sampled water were within their various WHO permissible limits except As, Cr and Pb. The pollution index of As, Cr and Pb were greater than 1, showing heavy contamination of the water. Carcinogenic risk assessment of water via ingestion and dermal route for Cr and As were above the recommended safe limit of 1×10-6 which posed a cancer risk. The results show that borehole waters were contaminated with heavy metals in both seasons. It is, therefore, recommended that borehole water from the study areas should be treated before being used for various domestic purposes.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Groundwater Around Nnewi Industrial Area, Anambra State, Nigeria
    AU  - Nkiruka Charity Eboagu
    AU  - Vincent Ishmael Egbulefu Ajiwe
    AU  - Kate Ekwy Ochiagha
    AU  - Chiedozie Aralu Chukwuemeka
    AU  - Ebele Joy Morah
    Y1  - 2023/04/13
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20231102.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20231102.11
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    SP  - 24
    EP  - 36
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7667
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20231102.11
    AB  - The influence of water quality from boreholes situated around the Nnewi industrial area was evaluated by assessing the heavy metal concentrations and health risks associated with human exposure. Water samples were collected from 16 different boreholes around eight industries at a monthly interval from May – October 2019 and November 2019 – April 2020 to cover the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. Water samples were analyzed for copper (Cu), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), and arsenic (As) using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Data obtained for both seasons indicate Cu had a mean value of (0.268±0.136 mg/L), Pb (0.014±0.013 mg/L), Fe (0.119±0.133 mg/L), Zn (0.572±0.220 mg/L), Cr (0.051±0.011 mg/L), and As (0.013±0.001 mg/L) respectively. All the heavy metal concentrations of the sampled water were within their various WHO permissible limits except As, Cr and Pb. The pollution index of As, Cr and Pb were greater than 1, showing heavy contamination of the water. Carcinogenic risk assessment of water via ingestion and dermal route for Cr and As were above the recommended safe limit of 1×10-6 which posed a cancer risk. The results show that borehole waters were contaminated with heavy metals in both seasons. It is, therefore, recommended that borehole water from the study areas should be treated before being used for various domestic purposes.
    VL  - 11
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

  • Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

  • Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

  • Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

  • Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

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