Description
ABSTRACT
This study presents the determination of heavy metal on river water. Concentration of Cu, Pb, Ni, Cd, Cr and Zn were determined in river water samples. The analyses of metals in river water samples were carried out by both; furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentration of the studied metals was also found in moderate limit. Periodic monitoring of trace metals in the aquatic organisms is recommended to avoid any unexpected health hazards caused by the toxic heavy metals river food consumption.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER PAGE
TITLE PAGE
APPROVAL PAGE
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
- BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
- AIM AND OBJECTIVES
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
- SCOPE OF THE STUDY
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY
2.2 SOURCES OF WATER
2.3 REVIEW HEAVY METALS IN RIVER WATER
2.4 TYPE OF WATER POLLUTION
2.5 METHODOLOGY ON HEAVY METALS ANALYSIS
2.6 SOURCES OF HEAVY METALS
2.7 HEAVY METAL EMISSION
2.8 CHEMISTRY OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTION
2.9 TOXIC EFFECTS OF HEAVY METALS ON HUMANS
2.10 OVERVIEW OF HEAVY METALS TOXICITY
2.11 REMEDIATION OF HEAVY METALS
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 STUDY AREA
3.2 COLLECTION OF SAMPLES
3.3 MEASUREMENTS OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF WATER
3.4 DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 RESULT AND DISCUSSION
4.1 RESULT
4.2 DISCUSSION
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of study
Water is one of the most important and abundant compounds of the ecosystem. All living organisms on the earth need water for their survival and growth. As of now only earth is the planet having about 70 % of water (Patil, et.al 2012).
Water is the second essential factor for life after oxygen. If this essential factor is not available, many organisms die. Human beings are not excluded from this marvelous factor. People obtain their water from different sources and water is of paramount importance especially in developing countries where water supplies still pose an issue (Barakat et.al 2011).
Heavy metals occur in the environment both as a result of natural processes as well as contaminants from human beings activities (Burford et al., 2015). Some heavy metals are known as potentially toxic include arsenic, lead, aluminium and cadmium, others are essential such as nickel, zinc and chromium. Heavy Metal has positive and negative effect on human health and surroundings (Burki et al., 2018). The accumulation of heavy metals in river water has been extensively studied and well documented. However, the research has been generally focused on the muscle tissue, while the distribution pattern among other tissues, such as liver and gills have been mainly neglected (Burki et al., 2018).
Furthermore, the contaminants also concentrate in some of the organs of aquatic food such as fish and can cause lethal and a range of sub lethal effects (Chen et al., 2020). It was known that active metabolite body parts such as liver, gill and kidney concentrate more on an amount of heavy metal than other parts like muscle. Fishes are often seen at the top of the aquatic food chain and may accumulate large amount of heavy metals from its environment. In addition, fishes are one of the most indicative aspects in freshwater ambience, for the evaluation of heavy metals pollution and health risk potential of human consumption (Chen et al., 2020). Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus as commercially important fish species can survive at adverse environmental conditions because their resistance to disease is strong, their respiratory demands are slight so that they can tolerate low oxygen, high ammonia levels and wide range of salinities (Zhou et al., 2018). Tilapia fish have a greater capacity for metal bioaccumulation than tiger prawn (Chen et al., 2020). Heavy metals are accumulated through different organs of the fish because of the affinity between them. In this process, all heavy metals are concentrating at a different levels in different organs of the fish body parts. Most studies have been concerted only on the accumulation of heavy metals in the edible part (muscle), in view of the fact that it is the main fish part that is consumed by human beings. Muscle is not always a good indicator of the entire body fish contaminations and therefore, it is vital to analyze other body parts as well, such as the gills and liver (Chen et al., 2020)Due to the existence of metal-binding proteins in some tissues, for an example metallothioneins in the liver can accumulate significantly higher heavy metal concentration than the muscles. The metal content in the fish dorsal muscle was estimated because of its significance for human consumption and the fish liver was also measured since this organ tends to concentrate metals, it is also a good indicator of chronic exposure to heavy metals because it is the site of metal metabolism. Whereas, the concentration of metals in gills represents the concentration of metals in water (Chi et al., 2019).
The pollution has mainly been caused by industrial processes and industrial waste, typically from rubber and oil palm mills (Tariq et al., 2016). Heavy metals may accumulate in aquatic species, enter the food chain and cause serious harm to human health when contamination content and exposure are significant (Flora et al., 2017) consequently, they have been listed by the US environmental Agency (USEPA).
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Environmental pollution is a major challenge in the recent era of modern society. Among different environmental contaminants, heavy metals are well known and are of greater concern due to their toxicity for living organisms and marine life. Heavy metals are a unique class of naturally occurring elements that persist in the environment for a long time and are not biodegradable (Chilton. 2012). Heavy metals are the natural part of the Earth’s crust. The sources of heavy metals into the environment could be natural or anthropogenic activities. Heavy metals enter oceans due to riverine influx, atmospheric deposition, and anthropogenic activities. Over the past decades, anthropogenic contributions to toxins such as heavy metals have grown into the aquatic ecosystem.
- AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study is the Analysis of heavy metals on river water. The objectives of the study:
- To examine the levels of heavy metal accumulation in river water.
- To determine the concentration of pH, Chloride, Calcium, Total Hardness, Magnesium, Alkalinity etc. in river water.
- To analyze the physio-chemical status of heavy metal in river water.
1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The present study has revealed that some of physico-chemical and heavy metal parameters of the in river water had values beyond the maximum tolerable limits recommended by WHO and SON. Thus, it calls for appropriate intervention, including awareness development work and improving the existing infrastructure in order to minimize the potential health problems of our aquatic foods.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study is useful in increasing awareness about the importance of maintaining safe in river water by using easy and effective methods which will reduce the chance of pathogenic microorganism survival and disease transmission for the consumers residing in such environment. This study helps to ensure that the river water that reaches the public is safe in order to ensure that our aquatic animals are safe.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION
Baseline data for physicochemical parameters (pH, TDS, EC) and heavy metal concentration in water in the vicinity of the Mkuju River Uranium Project were established for verification of compliance with the acceptable water quality standards before the proposed project commences. Four indicators were identified as baseline quantities sensitive to change the water quality due to pollution related to the proposed uranium mining. Increase of heavy metal in water forms hydroxide ions therefore pH values at convenient sampling points could be used as baseline for assessment of heavy metal pollution related to uranium mining in any season. Since the proposed uranium mining project will be open pit, increase of TDS ratio for surface water to ground water values would be sufficiently sensitive indicator to determine pollution of water due to uranium mining. Since TDS values is influence by rain, the ratio should be determined during the dry season which is between May and December for the study area. The heavy metal concentration below detection limits is an additional index that could be used as baseline data. In this case, increase of concentrations of copper and cadmium would be indicators of pollution for all sampling points while concentrations of chromium, nickel and arsenic would be indicators of pollution in some sampling points. Concentrations levels of all elements analysed except aluminium, iron, manganese and lead could serve as indicator for pollution. The values of correlation coefficients of heavy metals established in this study can serve as an indicator of water pollution by heavy metal associated with uranium mining.
