Determination of Heavy Metal Concentration in Selected Boreholes in the Vicinity of Dana Steel Rolling Mills in Katsina Metropolis, Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

In the current study, groundwater samples from five (5) boreholes near the Dana Steel Rolling Mill in Katsina, Nigeria, were examined for variations in the concentrations of specific heavy metals (Cd, Fe, Cu, Cr, and Pb) and their physicochemical parameters, about World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits, to evaluate their safety for human consumption, using standard methods. For locations A, B, C, and D, respectively, the concentration levels of Cd were 0.036 mg/kg, 0.011 mg/kg, 0.077 mg/kg, 0.041 mg/kg, and 0.057 mg/kg; Pb was 0.789 mg/kg, 0.622 mg/kg, 0.889 mg/kg, 0.756 mg/kg, and 0.556 mg/kg; Fe was 0.158 mg/kg, 0.207 mg/kg, 0.170 mg/kg, 0.178 mg/kg, and 0.178 mg/kg; Cr was 0.089 mg/kg, 0.068 mg/kg, 0.059 mg/kg, 0.102 mg/kg, and 0.091 mg/kg, and Cu was 1.034 mg/kg, 0.997 mg/kg, 0.998 mg/kg, 0.578 mg/kg, and 0.997 mg/kg for locations A, B, C, and D, respectively. Of all the metals examined, only copper was observed to have dropped below the health regulatory organizations' standard, suggesting concentration below the allowable limit. The results of the physiochemical parameters of the water samples revealed that the water is safe for drinking.