Abstract
Background: Availability of water in the desired quantity and quality has been the key to human survival. This research assessed groundwater quality being consumed by the citizens of Dutse Area of Jigawa State, Northwestern Nigeria. Methods: Sixty groundwater samples (hand-dug wells and boreholes) from fifteen locations were analyzed for physical, chemical and biological parameters in order to determine their quality and potential health impact on the consumers/residents of this area. The parameters analyzed in the field were pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC) and temperature using standard methods. The sodium and potassium were analysed using flame photometer; sulphate, nitrate and phosphate using spectrophotometer; while calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate and chloride were analysed using titrimetric method. Analysis of metals in the groundwater samples was achieved through Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry at Activation Laboratory in Canada. Microbial load was analysed by serial dilution and counting. Results: The results showed that mean values of the physico-chemical parameters ranged as follows: pH, 5.00-7.00; temperature, 23.0-29.0 oC; EC, 190-2100 µs/cm; chloride, 34.55-690.90 mg/L; sulphate, 3.0-96.0 mg/L; bicarbonate, 20.0-60.0 mg/L; phosphate, 0.00-0.05 mg/L; nitrate, 0.05-0.47 mg/L; calcium, 18.1-462.4 mg/L; magnesium, 16.2-204.5 mg/L; sodium, 4.00-72.00 mg/L and potassium, 0.24-5.88 mg/L. The results of the heavy metal analysis shows the range of concentration of the following toxic metals: Aluminium, 20.0-853.0 µg/L; Cadmium, 0.05-0.23 µg/L; Lead, 0.87-22.8 µg/L; Mercury, 0.6-1.0 µg/L; Arsenic, 0.1-0.33 µg/L; Chromium, 0.2-0.3 µg/L; Berrylium, 0.5-1.2 µg/L and Cobalt, 0.09-0.71 µg/L. These were generally found to be within the WHO standard except in few cases. Similarly, the result of the microbial analysis shows the presence of Escherichia coli in almost all the groundwater samples. Conclusion: Cumulative effect of toxic metal in the consumed groundwater of the study area portends the risk of cancer and related diseases.
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