Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Heavy metals pollution in a sewage treatment oxidation pond and the receiving stream of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This work centered on a 1-year evaluation campaign of point source pollution from a sewage treatment oxidation pond and its receiving stream. Water samples were collected from the sewage treatment oxidation pond and the receiving stream during July 2002 and June 2003. Concentrations of heavy metals were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) after a triple acid digestion of samples using open beaker method. Generally, the results showed high levels of toxic metals such as Cd, Pb, As, Al, Cr, Mn, Co, and Fe in the influent and effluent samples as well as in the receiving stream. The annual mean concentration of metals in the sewage samples ranged from 11.90 to 16.05, 64.96 to 88.27, 38.91 to 76.35, 17.46 to 24.45 μg/L for Cd, As, Pb, Co, and 4.31 to 8.77, 1.71 to 2.45, 0.46 to 0.74 and 13.82 to 20.47 mg/l for Al, Cr, Mn and Fe, respectively; while in the receiving stream, the concentrations were between 6.89 to 10.45, 35.50 to 59.26, 22.85 to 35.94, 11.33 to 18.83 μg/l for Cd, As, Pb, Co, and 1.99 to 3.49, 1.35 to 2.08, 0.21 to 0.48, and 8.93 to 14.15 mg/l for Al, Cr, Mn and Fe, respectively. The discharge of the effluent from the sewage pond into the receiving stream has therefore led to increase in the concentrations of some heavy metals downstream, thus impacting the receiving stream negatively and could pose a serious health hazard to aquatic ecosystems and humans particularly for rural dwellers and peasant farmers downstream that utilize the water from the receiving stream for various domestic and agricultural purposes untreated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adenuga, A. A., Ogunfowokan, A. O., Torto, N., & Okoh, E. K. (2007). Levels of Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd in effluent from a sewage treatment oxidation pond and a receiving stream– A preliminary study. Ife Journal of Science, 9(1), 115–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aleksandar, R., Michael, W. B. B., & Trevor, D. H. (1993). Determination of aluminum in different tissues of the rat by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization. Analyst, 118, 533–536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alfery, A. C., Legendre, G. R., & Kachny, W. D. (1976). The dialysis encephalophthy syndrome. Possible aluminium intoxication. New England Journal Of Medicine, 294, 184–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asami, T. (1974). Environmental pollution by cadmium and zinc discharged from a braun tube factory. Ibadan daigaku Nogakubu gakujutsu Hokakn, 22, 19–23.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carrondo, M. J. T., Lester, J. N., & Perry, R. (1978). An investigation of a flameless atomic absorption method for determination of aluminium, calcium, iron and magnesium in sewage sludge. Talanta, 26, 929–933.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CSIRO. (2001). An update of the CSIRO report “The environmental aspects of the use of PVC in building productions. Second Edition, 1998”.

  • DWAF. (1996). Water quality guidelines (volume !), domestic use (2nd edn.). Pretoria: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.

  • Dean, J. G., Bosqui, F. L., & Lanouette, V. H. (1972). Removing heavy metals; from wastewater. Environmental Science & Technology, 6, 518–522.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fatoki, O. S., & Awofolu, R. (2003). Levels of Cd, Hg and Zn in some surface waters from the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Water South Africa, 29(4), 375–380.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fatoki, O. S., Lujiza, N., & Ogunfowokan, A. O. (2002). Trace metal pollution in Umtata River. Water South Africa, 28, 183–189.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) (1990). Act. Cap 131, Laws of The Federation of Nigeria. Section 5 (g)

  • Filed, R. A., & Lager, T. A. (1975). Urban runoff pollution control-state-of-the- art. Journal Of The Environmental Engineering Division ASCE, 101(EE1), 107–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishbein, L. (1987). Perspectives of carcinogenic and mutagenic metals in biological samples. International Journal Of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 28, 21–69.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friberg, L., Kjellstroem, T., & Nordberg, G. F. (1986). In L. Friberg, G. F. Nordberg, & V. B. Vonk (Eds.) Handbook on the toxicology of metals, Vol. 11 pp. 130–184. New York Oxford: Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garry F. (2001). Why heavy metals are a hazard to your health: available http://www.becomehealthynow.com/ebookprint.php?id=122#Top

  • Gauglhofer, J., & Bianchi, V. (1991). Chromium. In E. Merian (Ed.) Metals and their compounds in the environment, occurrence, analysis and biological relevance (pp. 853–878). Cambridge: VCH, Weinteim.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heitfeld, K. H. & Schottler, U. (1973). Verackert wohin? Kontamination des Wassers’ In: International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) 1988, ‘Environmental Health Criteria’ 61: Chromium, WHO, Geneva

  • International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) (1988). Environmental Health Criteria 61: Chromium, WHO, Geneva.

  • Kjellstoem, T. (1986). Itai-itai disease. In L. Friberg, C. G. Elinder, T. Kjellstoem, & G. F. Nordberg (Eds.) Cadmium and health: a toxicological and epidemiological appraisal, effects of response, Vol. 11 (pp. 257–290). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lansdown, R. (1986). Lead, intelligence attainment and behaviour. In R. Lansdown, & W. Yule (Eds.) The lead debate (pp. 235–270). Lansdon-Sydney: Croom Helm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, T. E. (1989). Chemistry and toxicity of aliminum. Chelsea: Lewi’s Publichers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marian (Ed) (1991). Metals and their compound in the environment, occurrence analysis and biological relevance. Weiheim-New York-Bacel Cambridge: UCH.

  • Michael, F. L., & Standford, J. (2003). Epidemiological Investigation’ Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center and National Cancer Institute, Betsheda.

  • Needleman, H. L. (1987). Low level lead exposure and children’s intelligence: A quantitative and critical review of modern studies’ Proc. 6th Int. Conf. On Heavy Metals in the Environment, New Orleans. Vol I. CEP consultants Ltd., dinbury. 1–8.

  • Ogunfowokan, A. O., & Fakankun, O. A. (1998). Physico-chemical characterization of effluents from beverage processing plants in Ibadan, Nigeria. International Journal Environmental Studies, 54, 145–152.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ogunfowokan, A. O., Okoh, E. K., Adenuga, A. A., & Asubiojo, O. I. (2005). An assessment of the impact of point source pollution from a university sewage treatment oxidation pond on a receiving stream – a preliminary study. Journal of Applied Sciences, 5(I), 36–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pier, M. S., & Bang, K. M. (1980). Environment and health. In N. M. Trieff (Ed.) The butterworth group (p. 367). Ann Arbor Science, Publishers Inc.

  • Prater, B. E. (1975). The metal content and characteristics of Steework’s effluents discharging to the Tees estuary. Water Pollution Control, 74, 63–78.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Preuss, E., & Kollmann, H. (1974). Metallgehalte in Klarschlammen. Natur- wissenscharfter, 61, 270–274.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Radunovic, A., & Bradburg, M. W. B. (1993). Determination of aluminum in different tissues of the rat by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization. Analyst, 118, 533–536.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salido, A., & Jones, B. T. (1999). Simultaneous determination of Cu, Cd and Pb in drinking water using W-Coil AAS. Talanta, 50, 649–459.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sartor, J. D., Boyd, G. B., & Agandy, (1974). Water pollution aspects of street surface contaminants. Berich von Abfallhalden durch spurenmettale. Unwelt, 1, 57–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savory, J., & Wills, M. R. (1991). Aluminum. In Merian (Ed.) Metals and their compound in the environment. Occurrence, analysis and biological relevance. New York-Based-Cambridge: VCH Weinheinm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schantz, S. L., & Widholm, J. J. (2001). Cognitive effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in animals. Environmental Health Perspective, 109(12), 1197–1206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scheinberg, I. (1991). Copper. In E. Merian (Ed.) Metals and their compounds in the environment; occurrence, analysis and biological relevance. New York: VCH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoeppler, M. (1991). Cadmium. In E. Merian (Ed.) Metals and their compounds in the environment: occurrence, analyses and biological relevance (pp. 803–851). New York: VCH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Synder, R. B., Wuebbies, D. J., Pearson, J. E., & Ewing, B. B. (1971). A study of environmental pollution by lead. State of Illinois: Institutes of Environmental Study. IIEQ, Document No. 717.

  • Thomas, J. A. (1998). Drugs and chemicals that affect the endocrine system. International Journal of Toxicology, 17, 129–138.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Underwood, E. J. (1971). Trace elements in human nutrition (3rd edn.). New York, London: Academic Press.

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (1993). Environmental Health Criteria’ 134. Cadmium International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) Monography.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

    A. O. Ogunfowokan, A. A. Adenuga & E. K. Okoh

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB 00704, Gaborone, Botswana

    N. Torto

Authors
  1. A. O. Ogunfowokan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. A. Adenuga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. Torto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E. K. Okoh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. O. Ogunfowokan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ogunfowokan, A.O., Adenuga, A.A., Torto, N. et al. Heavy metals pollution in a sewage treatment oxidation pond and the receiving stream of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Environ Monit Assess 143, 25–41 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9945-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9945-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation