Geospatial assessment of the effects of cassava mill effluent on the environment in Ika North East, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Environmental pollution, of which cassava mill effluent is a component, is a global concern that appears particularly devastating to the environment and its habitats. As such, the geospatial assessment of the effects of cassava mill effluent on the environment in Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State, was conducted. The considered parameters include potential of hydrogen (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), nitrogen (N), chloride (Cl), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K). Data were analyzed with a student t-test using a statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 21. The parameters of the sampled soils changed due to cassava mill effluent exceeding WHO standards for land discharge. The affected soil by cassava effluent was acidic (pH = 4.92), while the unaffected soil was neutral (pH = 7.00). The significant difference between the impacted and unaffected soils by cassava mill effluent (P = .036) indicates an alteration of soil quality that can potentially induce toxicological effects on the environment and biodiversity, including humans. The values of pH, EC, N, and Fe, among others, in cassava mill effluent include 5.57, 2210, 0.40, and 50.0411, respectively. The simple linear regression analysis of cassava mill factories showed no pattern, implying the distribution is random (P = .000***). The study offers a spatial understanding of cassava effluent, its environmental impact, and pollution hotspots, enabling targeted interventions and management strategies to prevent soil, water, and air contamination in Ika and other developing regions. By leveraging tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other geospatial technologies, environmental processes can be monitored, analyzed, and modeled, leading to more informed decisions and effective strategies for sustainable cassava processing and effluent management. The study suggests effluent should be channeled into a designated pond and treated before discharge for effective control and management.