public health

Assessment of River Benue Water Quality and its Suitability for Human Consumption in Makurdi Town (Published)

This study assessed the Effects of Economic Activities on River Benue Water Quality: Case studies of Rice Mill Wadata and Pure Biotech Company Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study include; to examine and analyse the physical, chemical, biological/microbiological water quality and to examine the suitability of water for human consumption and its implications for public health in the study area. Water samples were collected from 3 sample location (River Benue at Abinsi, the waste water discharge points of the Pure Biotech Company and Rice Mill Wadata). The study used purposive sampling technique to select the points (upstream, midstream, and downstream) were water samples were collected and analyzed for various parameters. Raw data (water samples) were analysed at Greater Makurdi Water Works Laboratory, Makurdi while the results were presented via frequencies in a tabular form. Results showed that all locations exceeded Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) and World Health Organization (WHO) limits for colour, turbidity, Cr6+, and total coliform. High biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels indicated organic pollution. The study concludes that water quality in all locations is compromised, posing potential health risks. The study recommended strengthening environmental regulations on waste management before discharging in to the river, regular monitoring, treatment, and mitigation measures to improve water quality as well as engaging in public health education in and around the communities around riverine areas.

Keywords: River Benue, Water Quality, environmental regulations, industrial pollution, public health

Epublic Health Significance of Nutrients, Heavy Metal and Total Heterotrophic Bacteria Interaction in Water Bodies in Port Harcourt and Its Environs (Published)

Water is an essential commodity for all living things. It is an inorganic compound that can exist in solid, liquid and gaseous state under normal condition. The quality of any water body depends on certain factors such as the absence and or very neglectable amount of Total Heterotrophic bacteria count, heavy metal including physicochemical parameters among others. This study was carried during the dry season of 2021, and accounts for groundwater, surface and well water in Abuloma, Borikiri, Eagle-Island, Fimie, Macoba-Isaka, Ruekini and Rumuokoro respectively. Water samples were collected in 10ml sterile containers and labeled appropriately. Sample for the River was collected at the pelegial level stoppered while submerged. Sample from the boreholes and hand-dogged wells were collected in line with the American Public Health Association (APHA, 2107). The samples for the determination of heavy metal contents were fixed with 2 drops of concentrated trioxonitrate (V) acid (HNO₃) while that for microbial analysis were preserved in ice chests to inhibit the activity of microbes and were sent to the laboratory for further analysis. Results indicated that the nutrients (NO₃^–, SO₄^3- and PO₄^2-) values appeared insignificant (i.e., values are within the acceptable levels) when compared with European Union guidelines for water consumption except PO₄^2- for well water at Rumuekini and Rumuokoro respectively. The THBC factor was high in Abuloma for all the nutrients in surface water. Also, in well water, at Eagle-Island, Pb appeared elevated above the European Union standard for drinking water quality. Thus, it is recommended that well water from Eagle-Island be treated (i.e., the removal of Pb) to ensure it quality and safety for human consumption.

Keywords: Heavy Metal, Nutrients, Toal heterotrophic bacteria, public health