Title: Water quality assessment and heavy metals in sediment, soil and vegetable around Oke-Afa Canal, Lagos, Nigeria

Authors: B.I. Olu-Owolabi; K.O. Adebowale; S.O. Fakayode; M. Legemah

Addresses: Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200001, Nigeria ' Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200001, Nigeria ' Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, 4800 Calham Road Houston, Texas 77004, USA ' Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The extent of pollution of water, sediments, plants and soils irrigated with water from Oke-Afa canal Lagos was investigated. The mean values of the alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, total dissolve solids, total solids, phosphates, nitrates, pH, temperature and heavy metals were within the acceptable values of water for irrigation except a few which were higher than the FAO regulation. The levels of Zn, Cd and Pb in sediments exceeded European Community regulations values, while that of soil were within the values recommended except Cd. The average levels of heavy metals in Telfaria occidentalis were low but higher than the values of the control. It is concluded that industrial effluents, indiscriminate dumping of garbage and sewage have contributed to excess metals found in soil, sediment, water and plants.

Keywords: Lagos; Nigeria; physicochemical parameters; heavy metals; sediment pollution; water pollution; water quality; quality assessment; soil contamination; vegetable contamination; irrigation water; zinc; cadmium; lead; industrial effluent; indiscriminate dumping; garbage; sewage.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2012.049844

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2012 Vol.10 No.4, pp.400 - 412

Published online: 13 Dec 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article