PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SOME SELECTED WATER SOURCES AROUND THE WASTE TREATMENT PLANT OF AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL ZARIA, NIGERIA.
PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SOME SELECTED WATER SOURCES AROUND THE WASTE TREATMENT PLANT OF AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL ZARIA, NIGERIA.
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Date
2014-08
Authors
ADEGBE, Elijah,
Abakpa.
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Abstract
The assessment of the surface andground water sources within the vicinity of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital liquid waste treatment plant was conducted. A total of sixty-six (66) water samples were collected from eight sites (S1, S2, S3, S4, U1, U2, U3 and U4) from the study area. These samples were examined for heavy metal contamination using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), organic contamination using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (GCMS), bacteriological contamination and some physicochemical parameters. The levels of seven (7)heavy metals (chromium, lead, cadmium, iron, manganese, nickel and cobalt) in the water samples were analysed. Sites S1-S4 had the level of Cr ranging from 0.16-0.58 mg/l,Pb from 1.10-2.60 mg/l, Cd from 0.04-0.10 mg/l, Fe from 4.10-9.70 mg/l,Mn from 0.04-0.64 mg/l, Ni from 0.05-0.63 mg/l,Co from 0.50-0.90 mg/l and sites U1-U4 had the level of Cr ranging from 0.20-0.80 mg/l, Pb from 1.71-3.20 mg/l, Cd from 0.02-0.10 mg/l, Fe from 2.19-11.40 mg/l, Mn from 0.05-0.50 mg/l, Ni from 0.04-0.14 mg/l and Co from 0.22-0.40 mg/l. The levels were found to be above the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limit for most of the sites. Xylene, ethylbenzene, butylatedhydroxytoluene and toluene were identified in the samples using GCMS. The bacteriological analysis showed that the total coliform count ranged from 2×104 (Cfu/ml) to 31×104 (Cfu/ml) which is an indication of faecal contamination. The dissolved oxygen(1.03-1.50 mg/l) of the samples was lower than the World Health Organization (WHO) standard for aquatic life, indicating poor support for aquatic life. The turbidity (3.1-9.70 NTU) exceeded the permissible levels set by World Health Organization (WHO). All other physicochemical parameters(pH ranged from 6.30 – 7.70, electrical conductivity 43 – 820μS/cm, sulphate 1.20 – 6.90 mg/l, nitrate 3.00 – 18.90 mg/l, phosphate 0.10 – 3.30 mg/l, biochemical oxygen demand 0.13 – 0.80 mg/l, chemical oxygen demand 1.10 – 6.70 mg/l and temperature 24 - 27ºC) were below the WHO permissible limits. This study shows that hospital effluent and other human activities have a negating influence on water quality. Strict compliance to government policies on waste disposal and management is therefore recommended for Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital liquid wastes.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIAIN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARDOFA MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY.
Keywords
PHYSICO-CHEMICAL,, ANALYSIS,, SOME SELECTED,, WATER SOURCES,, AROUND THE WASTE., TREATMENT PLANT,, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,, TEACHING HOSPITAL ZARIA,, NIGERIA.