Journal: Environmental Contaminants Reviews (ECR)
Author: Emmanuel Toochuku Okafor, Abdullahi, Saidu, Umar, Nuhu Degree, Abdullahi, Aliyu Itari

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Doi:10.26480/ecr.01.2025.44.53

ABSTRACT

The inhabitants of Adudu and Abuni communities depend on streams, hand-dug wells, and ponds for drinking and domestic activities. To evaluate the safety of these sources, a water quality assessment was conducted focusing on heavy metal contamination and associated health risks. Physicochemical analyses followed American Public Health Association (APHA) protocols, while heavy metal concentrations were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results indicated that both surface and groundwater are unsuitable for drinking, as several parameters exceeded recommended limits for safe consumption. Geographic Information System (GIS) tools were applied for geologic and sampling location mapping. Pollution indices, including the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HMPI), Heavy Metal Contamination Index (HMCI), and Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HMEI), confirmed significant heavy metal contamination. Health risk assessments further revealed that residents face both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, mainly through ingestion. Multivariate statistical analysis suggested that contamination arises from both natural processes and anthropogenic inputs, particularly Pb-Zn mining and agriculture. The study concludes that current water sources pose serious health risks, underscoring the need for alternative potable water supplies or appropriate treatment strategies to safeguard community health.

KEYWORDS
Anthropogenic, Carcinogenic, Heavy metals, Health risks, Water quality.