Assessment of Heavy Metals Pollution and Microbial Contamination in Water from Alakija e-waste scrap site, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

The massive expansion of major cities coupled with improved standard of living, industrialisation, advancement in agricultural and construction activities have contributed to the high level of pollution in the environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the heavy metal, physical, chemical and microbial parameters in water samples collected from the e-waste scrap site located at Festac Third gate, Alakija Lagos State. The study site is an illegal scrap site created by scrap and plastic waste collectors. It is a wetland zone located in Festac Town. Water samples were collected from this site between September to December, 2016 representing the dry season while the wet season samples were collected between the months of May and August, 2017. The samples were collected in triplicates monthly and a total of twenty-four samples were collected for the two seasons. The water samples at each site were collected into 2.5ml tight plastic bottles, after being taken from the surface. The samples were transported to the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency water laboratory for further analyses. The physical, chemical, heavy metals and microbial parameters were determined. The results showed that all examined parameters were within the regulatory limits except for the microbial quality of the water samples that revealed the presence of faecal coliform. Colour ranged from 40.50-46.75 pt.Co.AHPA in the dry season and 84.5-105.00 pt.Co.AHPA in the wet season, when compared to the regulatory limit. Total acidity in the dry season ranged from 12.00-15.25mg/l and that of the wet season ranged from 43.50-45.75mg/l, alkalinity from 103.00-123.75mg/l and 516.00 -546mg/l in the dry and wet seasons respectively. The heavy metals were also within the regulatory limits. The study concluded that although the water quality was not compromised but it needs to be monitored because of it is closeness to the residential area as many of the residents depend on dug borehole for a clean water source