Increasing Levels of Metal Pollutants in River Kubanni Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract: The study examines the increasing levels of concentration of metal pollutants in river Kubanni Zaria, Nigeria. The main sources of data for the study are sediments from four distinctive zones of river Kubanni and materials from previous studies on the river. The samples were collected from the river for a period of eleven months, they were prepared in the laboratory and the Instrumental Nitrogen Activation Analysis (INAA) was adopted in the analysis of the data using Nigeria Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1). Twenty-nine metal pollutants (Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Dy, Na, K As, Br, La, Sm, Yb, U, Sc, Cr, Zn, Fe, Co, Rb, Cs, Ba, Eu, Hf, K, Ta, Sb and Tb) are identified in river Kubanni in various levels of concentration. A comparative analysis shows that there is steady increase in the levels of concentration of metal pollutants from 2001 to 2004 and to 2008 with resultant possible hazards on the population that depends on the river as the main source of water for domestic purposes. The reason for this increase in the levels of concentration of metal pollutants in river Kubanni is credited mainly to increase in anthropogenic activities within the catchment area. Finally the study makes useful recommendations on how to minimize the loading of river Kubanni with metal pollutants

Assessment of Metal contaminants in River Kubanni;

Abstract: This study examines the levels of concentration of metal pollutants in river Kubanni and the health implications of these metal contaminants. The main sources of data for the study were sediments from long profile of the river and WHO guidelines for drinking water that were obtained from relevant literatures and internet. The samples were prepared and Instrumental Nitrogen Activation Analysis (INAA) was adopted in the analysis of the data using Nigerian Research Reactor -1 (NIRR-1). Twenty nine metal contaminants (Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Dy, Na, K, As, Br, La, Sm, Yb, U, Sc, Cr, Zn, Fe, Co, Rb, Cs, Ba, Eu, Lu, Hg, Ta, Sb and Th) were identified in the river. The safety levels of the metal contaminants were examined by comparing the obtained values with WHO guidelines for domestic water and it was observed that the river is getting polluted by Al, Mn, As, U, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Ba, Na and Sb with severe health implications on the consumers of the river Kubanni water. The levels of concentration of Mg, Ca, Ti, V, Dy, K, Br, La, Sm, Yb, Sc, Hg, Ta, Rb, Cs, Eu, Lu and Th are also high, although there is no WHO standard for comparison, some of these metals are suspected to be harmful to humans when consumed in excess quantity

Spatial Distribution of Some Heavy Metals in Sediments in the River Hadejia Catchment, Nigeria

Heavy metals concentration levels were determined using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) technique which is possible using Nigeria Research Reactor-1 (NIRR) which is a Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR). The selection of sediment sample is because, overtime, the chemical elements precipitate on the sediment bed; therefore the sediment sample will indicate the true nature of the chemical elements present in the river system. The sediment samples were collected using stratified random sampling technique based on change in land use activity. Samples were collected during dry and wet seasons and analyzed in the laboratory. The results obtained show the presence of chemical contaminants Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn), and Europium (Eu) in concentrations above the permissible limits in the Hadejia river system. For example, Chromium (Cr) has mean concentration of 432.86 mg/l as against the permissible limit for both WHO, (2011) and NSDWQ, (2007) of 0.05mg/l. Anthropogenic and natural geology of the area are the key determinants of the presence of these chemical elements in the area. It is recommended among others that there is need for routing the actual sources of these contaminants in our river catchment areas

Spatial Distribution of Some Heavy Metals in Sediments from the River Hadejia Catchment, Nigeria

Heavy metals concentration levels was determined using Instrumental Nitrogen Activation Analysis (INAA) is possible using Nigeria Research Reactor-1 (NIRR) which is a Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR). It is specifically used for the Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) technique. The selection of sediment sample is because, overtime, the chemical elements precipitate on the sediment bed; therefore the sediment sample will indicate the true nature of the chemical elements present in the river system. River Hadejia is a perennial river, though the dry season flow is from the upstream regulated flow from the Tiga and Bagauda dams. The sediment samples were collected using stratified random sampling technique based on change in land use activity. Samples were collected during dry and wet seasons and analyzed in the laboratory. The results obtained show the presence of chemical contaminants Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn), and Europium (Eu) in concentrations above the permissible limits in the Hadejia river system. For example, Chromium (Cr) has mean concentration of 432.86 mg/l as against the permissible limit for both WHO, (2011) and NSDWQ, (2007) of 0.05mg/l. Anthropogenic and natural geology of the area are the key determinants of the presence of these chemical elements in the area. It is recommended among others that there is need for routing the actual sources of these contaminants in our river catchment areas