Frequency of electronics waste generated heavy metals in urban waterways

Heavy metals are one of the dreadful environmental pollutants. Its toxicity is a menace to the ecosystem and has attracted global concern over the decades. The attendant uncontrolled disposal and recycling of electronic-waste (e-waste) has greatly influence the elevated concentration of heavy metals observed in Nigeria waterways. This study was carried out to investigate the frequency of the deadly heavy metals as part of public health intervention. The study was a cross sectional design in which waterways from the three geographical zones of Kwara State, Nigeria were sampled by integrated composite method and analyzed for physical and chemical parameters during the dry and rainy season. High frequency of e-waste generated heavy metals in the urban waterways was observed with respect to influence of settlement, geographical zones and seasonal variation in the study area. The mean concentrations of the heavy metals analyzed showed a decreasing trend in their quantity as Cr > Cd> Pb> Hg in both seasons. Statistically, no significant difference in densities of Lead, Mercury and Chromium with respect to season (Pcal = 0.482 in chromium, Pcal = 0.067 in Lead, Pcal = 0.146 in Mercury, P > 0.05). However, there was significant difference in frequency of Cadmium by season (Pcal = 0.001, P < 0.05). Assessment of the findings with respect to geographical zone revealed a significant difference in the mean distribution of Chromium during both seasons. Heavy metals were also recorded to be higher in the urban areas than the rural areas.

کلیدواژه ها:

Electronic-waste ، Heavy metals ، Kwara State toxicity ، Waterways