EVALUATION OF TOXIC ELEMENTS IN GROUNDWATER IN THE INDUSTRIES AREA OF NNEWI NORTH SOUTH-EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Due to the unregulated flow of industrial wastes into the environment, industrial pollution is a major environmental issue in South-eastern Nigeria. It became critical to examine the influence of industrial activity on groundwater quality for home use. Following conventional protocols, twenty-two groundwater water samples were obtained inside the study region. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, method was used to determine the chemical compositions of all the samples collected. Groundwater Quality index was employed to evaluate the laboratory result. Potential Toxic Element concentrations in Groundwater for Cr, Fe, Ni, As, Cd, Hg and Al ranged from (0.00 to 0.83ppm, 0.32 to 0.56ppm 0.10 to 0.38ppm, 0.00 to 0.32ppm, 0.00 to 0.01ppm, 0.13 to 0.35ppm, and 0.00 to 1.21ppm) respectively. The various guidelines for water quality and the index revealed that the groundwater was contaminated, basically from anthropogenic sources. It´s recommended that the groundwater should be treated before consumption.