Trace elements in drinking and groundwater samples in southern Nigeria

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Public Health

Background:

• Access to safe drinking water is crucial for public health.
• Contamination of water sources with heavy metals poses significant health risks.
• Understanding elemental profiles in water supplies is essential for risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the levels of 19 elements in drinking water and groundwater in Southern Nigeria.
• To compare these elemental concentrations with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
• To identify potential risks associated with water quality in the region.

Main Methods:

• Water samples were collected from various sources including public taps, domestic taps, treated water, boreholes, and shallow wells.
• Inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed for the quantitative analysis of elements.
• Elemental concentrations were reported in mean levels (micrograms per liter).

Main Results:

• Mean elemental levels in drinking water ranged from 0.35 µg/l (Cesium) to 87.3 µg/l (Zinc).
• Mean elemental levels in groundwater ranged from 0.54 µg/l (Cobalt) to 420.3 µg/l (Barium).
• Most investigated elements were below WHO maximum allowable concentrations, except for Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), and Selenium (Se) in some drinking water samples.

Conclusions:

• Drinking water and groundwater in Southern Nigeria generally meet WHO standards for most analyzed elements.
• Elevated levels of Cadmium, Chromium, and Selenium in some drinking water supplies indicate localized contamination concerns.
• Further monitoring and potential remediation strategies are recommended for affected water sources to ensure public health safety.