POLLUTION LEVELS OF HEAVY METALS IN GROUNDWATER SOURCES IN LEAD MINE AREAS OF BUKKUYUM, ZAMFARA STATE, NIGERIA
The uncontrolled illegal mining activities have left a lot of environmental pollution, enormous amount of wastes that have great potentials of polluting groundwater in several communities in Nigeria. The pollution level in groundwater samples from Boreholes and hand dug wells from heavy metals in the mining areas of Bukkuyum local government in Zamfara State was assessed during peak dry season as well as during peak rainy season using atomic absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS 210VG Model). The mean concentration levels of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in boreholes and hand dug wells in the peak dry season are:0.061mg/L,0.060mg/L, 0.364mg/L,0.0273mg/L, 0.035mg/L from Boreholes and 0.035mg/L, 0.041mg/L, 0.035mg/L and 0.150mg/L, 0.014mg/L from hand dug wells respectively. Similarly, the concentration levels recorded in the peak rainy season are:0.039mg/L, 0.037mg/L, 0.218mg/L, 0.164mg/L,0.027mg/L from Boreholes and, 0.025mg/L, 0.024mg/L,0.031mg/L, 0.079mg/L, 0.081mg/L from hand dug wells respectively. The results indicated that the concentration levels of the assessed heavy metals are higher in the peak dry season than in the peak rainy season. The observed higher concentration of Pb in both dry and rainy season in boreholes and hand dug wells are at an alarming level, higher than the safe limit of 0.01mg/L WHO and NESREA standards. This development indicates a significant contamination of groundwater sources in the area especially in the dry season when the demand of water for drinking and other domestic purposes are very high. The present finding is a serious cause for concern to public health particularly consumers of this water sources. The development calls for public education of the public and the government should enact laws to control and regulate mining activities in other to reduce the level of the observed ground water pollution.
Authors : Hong, A. H.
Category : Open Access Volume (Issue) : 7(1) Date Uploaded : 14th June 2021