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Distribution of Heavy Metals in Surface and Ground Water in Mkpuma Akpatakpa and Environs

Received: 29 September 2014     Accepted: 9 October 2014     Published: 25 December 2014
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Abstract

The inhabitants of Mkpuma Akpatakpa have resorted to the usage of water accumulated in the abandoned mine ponds and boreholes due to inadequate potable water within the area. Lead Zinc deposit which is typical of the Benue Trough has been mined within the area, leaving heaps of mine tailings at the site. A total of seven (7) water samples were collected and geochemically analyzed with the main objective of assessing their distribution in the waters of the study area. The results revealed the concentration of Arsenic to be high in both surface and groundwater ranging from 0.1 to 0.492mg/l. which exceeds the WHO limit for portable water. Constant exposure to Potentially Harmful Elements (PHEs) such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), and arsenic (As) have shown to have cumulative effects on human health since there is no homeostatic mechanism which can operate to regulate their toxicity. Heavy metals are released into the environment by natural and anthropogenic processes and these increase their concentration, hence leading to pollution. As the populace continues to be exposed to such hazardous element in their drinking water, the health implication could be prevalent overtime if not arrested.

Published in American Journal of Environmental Protection (Volume 3, Issue 6-2)

This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrating Earth Materials, Diet, Water and Human Health

DOI 10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.14
Page(s) 25-29
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Arsenic, Risk, Heavy Metals, Abandoned Mine, Concentration

References
[1] Adediran G., Oleyede, O. and Oyindoye, J. A. 1990. Some heavy metal composition of some Nigeria soup condiments. Nig Food J., 9:13- 14
[2] Benkhelil, J. 1987. Cretaceous deformation, magmatism and metamorphism in the lower Benue Trough. Nigeria, Geol. Journ. 22, 467 – 493.
[3] Lar, U.A. 2009. Trace element and Health; some case studies from Nigeria: Nigerian Mapping Technical Assistance Programme, Kaduna.
[4] Offodile, M.E. 2002> Ground water study and development in Nigeria. Mecon Geology and Engineering services Ltd. 2nd edition, pp. 204 -2014.
[5] Jakupee, M.A., and Keppler, B.K., 2004. Gallium and other main group metal compounds as anti – tumour agents, Met. Ions Biol. Syst., 421, 425 – 462.
[6] Reyment, R.A 1965. Aspects of the Geology of Nigeria. Ibadan: University Press.
[7] Tomov, A., and Konzmova, K. 2005. Exploring possibilities of cultivation of unpolluted plant produce in lead and cadmium contaminated sites, J. Cen. Eur. Agric., 6: 121 – 126.
[8] Usman, A. M. and Lar, U. A. 2013. An overview of arsenic distribution in some parts of Biu Volcanic Province North – Eastern Nigeria. Earth Science, vol 2, No.6, pp.145-148.
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  • APA Style

    Wazoh Hannatu, Ikechukwu S. B, Gusikit Rhoda, Bala D. A., Ajol Fubre. (2014). Distribution of Heavy Metals in Surface and Ground Water in Mkpuma Akpatakpa and Environs. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 3(6-2), 25-29. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.14

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    ACS Style

    Wazoh Hannatu; Ikechukwu S. B; Gusikit Rhoda; Bala D. A.; Ajol Fubre. Distribution of Heavy Metals in Surface and Ground Water in Mkpuma Akpatakpa and Environs. Am. J. Environ. Prot. 2014, 3(6-2), 25-29. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.14

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    AMA Style

    Wazoh Hannatu, Ikechukwu S. B, Gusikit Rhoda, Bala D. A., Ajol Fubre. Distribution of Heavy Metals in Surface and Ground Water in Mkpuma Akpatakpa and Environs. Am J Environ Prot. 2014;3(6-2):25-29. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.14,
      author = {Wazoh Hannatu and Ikechukwu S. B and Gusikit Rhoda and Bala D. A. and Ajol Fubre},
      title = {Distribution of Heavy Metals in Surface and Ground Water in Mkpuma Akpatakpa and Environs},
      journal = {American Journal of Environmental Protection},
      volume = {3},
      number = {6-2},
      pages = {25-29},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajep.s.2014030602.14},
      abstract = {The inhabitants of Mkpuma Akpatakpa have resorted to the usage of water accumulated in the abandoned mine ponds and boreholes due to inadequate potable water within the area. Lead Zinc deposit which is typical of the Benue Trough has been mined within the area, leaving heaps of mine tailings at the site. A total of seven (7) water samples were collected and geochemically analyzed with the main objective of assessing their distribution in the waters of the study area. The results revealed the concentration of Arsenic to be high in both surface and groundwater ranging from 0.1 to 0.492mg/l. which exceeds the WHO limit for portable water. Constant exposure to Potentially Harmful Elements (PHEs) such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), and arsenic (As) have shown to have cumulative effects on human health since there is no homeostatic mechanism which can operate to regulate their toxicity. Heavy metals are released into the environment by natural and anthropogenic processes and these increase their concentration, hence leading to pollution. As the populace continues to be exposed to such hazardous element in their drinking water, the health implication could be prevalent overtime if not arrested.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Distribution of Heavy Metals in Surface and Ground Water in Mkpuma Akpatakpa and Environs
    AU  - Wazoh Hannatu
    AU  - Ikechukwu S. B
    AU  - Gusikit Rhoda
    AU  - Bala D. A.
    AU  - Ajol Fubre
    Y1  - 2014/12/25
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.14
    T2  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    JF  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    JO  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    SP  - 25
    EP  - 29
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5699
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.s.2014030602.14
    AB  - The inhabitants of Mkpuma Akpatakpa have resorted to the usage of water accumulated in the abandoned mine ponds and boreholes due to inadequate potable water within the area. Lead Zinc deposit which is typical of the Benue Trough has been mined within the area, leaving heaps of mine tailings at the site. A total of seven (7) water samples were collected and geochemically analyzed with the main objective of assessing their distribution in the waters of the study area. The results revealed the concentration of Arsenic to be high in both surface and groundwater ranging from 0.1 to 0.492mg/l. which exceeds the WHO limit for portable water. Constant exposure to Potentially Harmful Elements (PHEs) such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), and arsenic (As) have shown to have cumulative effects on human health since there is no homeostatic mechanism which can operate to regulate their toxicity. Heavy metals are released into the environment by natural and anthropogenic processes and these increase their concentration, hence leading to pollution. As the populace continues to be exposed to such hazardous element in their drinking water, the health implication could be prevalent overtime if not arrested.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 6-2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Geology, University of Jos, Jos, Ngeria

  • Nigerian Army Engineers (NAE), 23 Support Engineer Regiment, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba, Jos, Nigeria

  • Department of Geology, University of Jos, Jos, Ngeria

  • Department of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria

  • Department of Geology, University of Jos, Jos, Ngeria

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