Water samples were collected from three different locations along the Silver River, Bayelsa State and were analyzed for the concentrations of selected heavy metals. This was done with the aim to determine if the concentrations of the metals exceeded the minimum requirement for drinking water by WHO. The result showed that the examined metals; cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), nickel (N), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and mercury (Hg) concentrations were between 0.714±0.131-2.414±0.648, 1.742±0.214-3.812±1.136, 1.694±0.331-3.725±1.203, 0.443±0.06-2.717±0.782, 2.171±0.520-3.691±0.669, 5.167±2.063-8.239±2.411, 2.891±0.897-4.489±1.093, 0.349±0.062-2.891±1.033 and 0.0011±0.00-0.0024±0.00 mg/L respectively. All the values observed for the individual heavy metals except Hg were higher than the WHO value for domestic water. The contamination factor index analyzed from the concentrations of the heavy metals showed different degrees or levels of contamination – pollution of the water by the individual metals examined. Therefore, the water is not good for human consumption. The government should make practicable efforts to stop the input sources of these metals into the Silver River water body.

Plato lamented nearly 2500 years ago that land degradation in the city of Athens had stripped it off the lush hills of Greece. Among the key forms of degradation are deforestation, drought, siltation of rivers, destruction of water catchment areas, soil erosion, poaching and pollution due to industrialization. This destruction has been going on unabated despite awareness creation through education and also legislations. The greed of humanity for exploitation of the environment for profits has exposed the soft underbelly of human civilization giving rise to phenomena like global warming, floods, drought and now diseases associated with environmental degradation are a threat to the survival of mankind.

In this study a cost-effective adsorbent was prepared from phosphate rock waste. An abundant phosphate rock waste was generated, as by-product, from phosphate concentration processes. Phosphate rock waste was activated by chemical activators (including  different concentration of HNO3 and  NaOH or with both). The developed adsorbent was characterized using different techniques (XRD, XRF and SEM). Batch experiments were conducted to test the heavy metal ions (Cd+2, Cu+2, Ni+2, Pb+2 and Zn+2) removal efficiency by the developed adsorbent. The adsorption process was evaluated as a function of various operating parameters such as contact time, solution pH, temperature, initial metal ion concentration, and adsorbent dosage. The results concluded that activation phosphate rock waste was effective with 2M HNO3, and the developed adsorbent is suitable for effective removal of Cd+2, Cu+2, Ni+2, Pb+2 and Zn+2 from aqueous solution. Initial uptake of these metal ions increases with time and reaches equilibrium at 60 min, while the optimum adsorbent dosage and solution temperature were 0.5 g 100 mL-1 and 25°C, respectively. The adsorption process was pH-dependent with high adsorption capacity at pH 7. The experimental isotherms data were analyzed using the Langmuir, and Freundlich   models. The data obtained from adsorption isotherms of metal ions at different time fitted well to linear form of Langmuir model.

Composite samples were collected from the six refuse dumpsites and analyzed for heavy metals concentrations using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS VGB 210 system). The concentrations of the heavy metals in (mg/Kg) were in the following order: Fe>Mn>Cu>Zn>Ni>Co>Cd>V>Pb. The values of the heavy metals observed in the different dumpsites were lower than their corresponding average value in shale. However, the values from the different dumpsites showed some relationship with industrial activities. In each of the metals, the highest values were obtained in parts of Port Harcourt where there is serious presence of industrial work. The contamination factor (CF) revealed that dumpsites soils were not contaminated with any of the heavy metals and do not seem to pose danger presently. Therefore, more regulatory activities by the relevant agencies should be put in place as to forestall future occurrence of accumulation that might pose danger to the environment.

Please read full article : - www.ikprress.org