Risk Assessment and Concentration Analysis of Heavy Metals and Phenolic Endocrine Disruptors in the Water of Omoku River, Nigeria

Abstract

This study details the levels of phenolic endocrine disruption chemicals "EDCs" and heavy metals in Omoku River water, as well as an evaluation of the associated risks. The Omoku River provided twelve (12) water samples. The samples were extracted and characterised using gas chromatography integrated with a flame ionisation detector (GC/FID) and an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). At varying amounts and locations, the results showed that Fe, Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn, and Cu were present in the water, along with the phenolic endocrine-disrupting chemicals BPA, NP, t-OP, and CP. Results showed that surface water was contaminated with Cd, Pb, and Zn, as compared to certain WHO criteria. We found that Cd, Pb, and Ni were all quite contaminated, with Pb being highly so, and Zn and Cu being deemed not polluted at all. Children had high chronic daily intake (CDI) levels of BPA at Onosi Akpu (6.216 μg/kg/day) and Onosi Rubber (0.3306 μg/kg/day), while adults had high CDI values at Onosi Akpu (1.776 μg/kg/day) and low CDI values at Onosi Rubber (0.0945 μg/kg/day). With such a high CDI, fish poses a greater threat to children's health. The research has shown that the Omoku River contains heavy metals and phenolic EDCs, thus it is important to check these chemicals periodically.