Heavy Metal Contamination of Ground Water: The Surulere Case Study

M.A. Momodu ； C.A. Anyakora

《Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences》 2卷1期 (2010/01) Pp. 39-43

並列摘要

Heavy Metal contamination of the groundwater in middle class neighbourhood of Lagos was assessed. About forty nine well and borehole water samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer for their Aluminium, Cadmium and Lead content and their levels compared with WHO specified maximum contaminant level. According to the WHO, the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for Aluminium, Cadmium and Lead are 0.2, 0.003 and 0.01mg/L respectively. From the results obtained, none of the samples analysed contained Aluminium in concentrations above the MCL, however, the metal was found to be present in 93.88% of the samples analysed. Over 38% of the samples had Cadmium present in them and 32.65% of the samples had Cadmium concentrations above the MCL. Almost 60% of the samples had detectable level of Lead while 36.73% of the sample had Lead concentration above the MCL. In general 97.96% of all samples analysed contained one or more of the three heavy metals studied each in varying concentrations. The results obtained from this study suggest a significant risk to this population given the toxicity of these metals and the fact that for many, hand dug wells and bore holes are the only sources of their water supply in this environment.

並列關鍵字

AAS ； ground water ； heavy metals ； maximum contamination level and WHO