Evaluation of pollution status of groundwater resources of parts of Owerri metropolis and environs, Southeastern Nigeria, using health risk and contamination models

Some groundwater resources within Owerri Metropolis and environs, Southeastern Nigeria were evaluated to ascertain the level of groundwater contamination as well as the intrinsic health risk that may result from the oral ingestion of the groundwater from the study area. Groundwater samples from 27 b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International Journal of Energy and Water Resources 2020-12, Vol.4 (4), p.357-374
Main Authors: Ibe, F. C., Enyoh, C. E., Opara, A. I., Ibe, B. O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioaccumulation
Boreholes
Contaminants
Contamination
Dissolved solids
Drinking water
Electrical conductivity
Electrical resistivity
Floods
Groundwater
Groundwater pollution
Health hazards
Health risk assessment
Health risks
Ingestion
Lead
Pollutants
Pollution
Pollution index
Pollution load
Precipitation
Principal components analysis
Toxicity
Water analysis
Water quality
Water resources
Water sampling
Water supply
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Summary:Some groundwater resources within Owerri Metropolis and environs, Southeastern Nigeria were evaluated to ascertain the level of groundwater contamination as well as the intrinsic health risk that may result from the oral ingestion of the groundwater from the study area. Groundwater samples from 27 boreholes were taken and analysed using standard procedures. The results revealed pH levels (6.04 ± 0.09 to 6.47 ± 0.06) which were lower than the World Health Organisation (WHO) permissible limit. Elevated levels of lead (0.01 ± 0.01 to 0.08 ± 0.02 mg/L) concentration above the WHO standard for safe drinking water were observed in some samples. Though the pollution load index for the area was low, however, the contamination factor revealed lead (Pb) contamination of the samples with positive correlations existing between the metallic pollutants. Electrical conductivity and dissolved solids showed a very strong correlation with r = 1. However, the result of the water quality index revealed that the groundwater samples were within good to excellent water quality. The principal component analysis of the samples grouped the metallic pollutants into three different components, suggesting similarity in the source of occurrence with only one coherent cluster established by the hierarchical component analysis indicating their association in terms of occurrence. The individual hazard quotient and hazard index of the metallic pollutants for adults and children were 
ISSN:2538-3604
2522-0101
DOI:10.1007/s42108-020-00071-8