Comparative Analysis of Selected Heavy Metals in Surface and Groundwater Sources near the General Hospital Water Tank, Agbarho, Delta State

Abstract

In the area around the main hospital in Agbarho, Delta State, an evaluation of the ground and surface water sources was carried out. Eight (8) water samples were taken from eight (8) different locations within the study region (S1, S2, S3, S4, U1, U2, U3, and U4). We used an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) to check for heavy metal contamination in these samples. The APHA, 1998 method was used to analyze the amounts of seven (7) heavy metals in the water samples: manganese, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, iron and nickel. Cr levels in sites S1–S4 ranged from 0.16 to 0.58 mg/L, Pb levels from 1.10 to 2.60 mg/L, Cd levels from 0.04 to 0.10 mg/L, Fe levels from 4.10 to 9.70 mg/L, Mn levels from 0.04 to 0.64 mg/L, and Ni levels from 0.05 to 0.63 mg/L, Cr ranged from 0.50 to 0.90 mg/L, Pb from 1.71 to 3.20 mg/L, Cd from 0.02 to 0.10 mg/L, Fe from 2.19 to 11.40 mg/L, Mn from 0.05 to 0.50 mg/L, Ni from 0.04 to 0.14 mg/L, and Co from 0.22 to 0.40 mg/L compared to sites U1-U4. For the majority of the sites, the levels were found to be higher than the WHO recommended limit. This study demonstrates that human activities, including hospital effluent, negatively impact water quality. Therefore, it is advised that general hospitals in Agbarho, Delta State, strictly adhere to government regulations regarding waste management and disposal.