HEAVY METAL ASSESSMENT OF BOREHOLE WATER IN IKPESHI

ABSTRACT

Heavy metals are suspected of having adverse effects on human health and have been frequently detected in soils and water. The aim of the study is to assess the level of heavy metals in water obtained from six different boreholes, in Ikpeshi, Edo State. Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer was used to estimate and evaluate the concentration of heavy metals, the pH of the borehole samples was measured Insitu using a pH meter. The pH with a mean value of 5.67, the heavy metals tested and detected for were Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), and Nickel (Ni) with mean concentrations of 1.14, 0.59, 0.34, 0.04, 0.03, respectively with Pb and Cd not detected. The estimated mean concentration of the heavy metals in the samples from the study area were found below the maximum tolerable level recommended by WHO/NSDWQ except Ni which was slightly above the recommended level by NSDWQ.