Evaluation of Heavy Metals Content of Water Bodies at Two Industrial Communities of Eleme and Ewekoro, Southern Nigeria

摘要

This study determined the concentration (ppm) of heavy metals, arsenic, zinc, chromium, nickel, iron,cadmium, lead, manganese, calcium and potassium in underground and surface water obtained frompetrochemical refinery and cement producing site in some parts of southern Nigeria in order to assess theimpact of petroleum processing and cement production on water quality. Water obtained from non-industrializedarea (Umuariaga) served as control, alongside rain water and bottle water produced by Coca-Cola. Heavymetal concentration was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results obtained for arsenic(0.01667±0.0086), lead (0.01778±0.0097) and cadmium (0.00300±0.0007) for surface water in petrochemicalrefinery site (Eleme) surpassed the WHO (0.01) guideline for arsenic and lead, and (0.003) for cadmiumconcentration in water. For cadmium in surface water (0.00367±0.0007) and underground water(0.00400±0.0007) found around cement producing region (Ewekoro), concentration obtained surpassed theWHO guideline for cadmium in water.