Assessment of Selected Heavy Metal Concentrations in Water and Sediment around Ikirun Iron-Smelting Industry, Ikirun, Osun State, Nigeria
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Date
2020
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African Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
Abstract
This study was carried out on a stream, three ponds, and two wells located
within the vicinity of the Iron-smelting industry in Ikirun, Ifelodun Local
Government Area of Osun State. Water samples were collected from
seven sampling points along the stream, two hand-dug wells, and three
ponds. A total of 72 water samples were taken at two-month interval
between January and November. Sediments' samples (60) were also
collected from the same locations where water was sampled, except for
the hand dug wells. Heavy metals (Fe, Zn, As, Pb, and Cd) were analysed
using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Cadmium (0.01 ± 0.00
mg/l), Pb (0.01 ± 0.00 mg/l), and As (0.01 ± 0.00 mg/l) had concentrations
above both World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigerian Industrial
Standards (NIS) limits in both the surface and underground waters while
Zn (0.13 ± 0.03) and Fe (0.18 ± 0.00 mg/l) had concentrations below the
maximum permissible limits of WHO and NIS in both surface and
underground water samples. Pb (0.01 ± 0.00), Zn (0.12 ± 0.00), and As
(0.01 ± 0.00 mg/l) were observed to be lower in water than their
corresponding values in sediment (0.05 ± 0.00, 0.23 ± 0.00, and 0.04 ±
0.00 mg/kg) respectively. The study concluded that the water bodies
around the iron-smelting industry have high heavy metal contents above
the regulatory standards and the water could not be recommended for
drinking purpose.