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Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Health Risk Assessment of Water Sources Due to Heavy Metal across Toto Town, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. |
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PP: 165-173 |
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doi:10.18576/jrna/080210
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Author(s) |
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Rilwan, U,
Alkasim,
A.,Hassan Yuguda,
Baba, M.T,
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Abstract |
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It is evidently clear that water is one of the prime elements responsible for life on earth. Regrettably, even this small portion of fresh water is under pressure due to anthropogenic sources that results from rapid growth in population and industrial activities. Heavy metals are the main pollutants and elements of risk in drinking water. The results of the Assessment of Heavy Metals Concentration in some Selected Water Sources across Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria using Micro Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer have been presented. Four heavy metals along with their respective concentrations in mg/l (Zn (0.35), Cu (0.02), Pd (0.04) and Ni (0.003) were found in the water samples. One of the major points of concern in this research is the concentration of Lead (Pb) in all the water samples under investigation which was found to be higher than the World recommended limit of 0.01 mg/l. However, finding of this study have revealed that the mean Concentration of the analyzed heavy metals in all the water samples arranged in decreasing order is Zn > Pb > Cu > Ni. It was also found that the Mean Daily Intake in mg/l/day, carcinogenic risk assessments (Risk Pathway and Total Risk) and the non-carcinogenic risk assessments (Hazard Quotient and Hazard Index) were found to be lower than the WHO’s recommended value of unity in all the heavy metals for all locations under investigation. This implies that the mean concentration level of most of heavy metals like Zn, Cu and Ni in those areas is not significant and may not cause radiological hazard to the populace unless when accumulated over a long period of time. However, high concentration of lead was recorded which could be attributed to both natural and man-made activities such as geological formation of the study Area, fertilizer, herbiside, pestiside application by farmers, artisenanl mining activities, activities of metal scrap businesses taking place in the area and so on. Hence, it can be concluded that the mean concentration level of heavy metals in those areas may cause health hazard to the populace as a result of accumulation of Pb in the body over time. |
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