Domestic water quality associated with heavy metals and impact on human health according to body mass index (BMI) in Kebbi state, Nigeria

Abstract

Heavy metals pollution is associated with various forms of deleterious effects to the ecosystem. The aim of this study was to quantify Cu, Mn, Cd, Zn, Ni, Pb, Co, Fe, Cr, and As in ground water and assess its impact on human health when used for domestic purpose. Eighteen ground water samples were collected, prepared and analyzed using Agilent technology model 4210 MP-AES microwave plasma emission spectrophotometer. The concentrations of Cd, As, Pb and Cu were greater than the WHO standard. The assessment of the human health risks from all the studied HMs revealed that the non carcinogenic risk was higher in children than adults while the carcinogenic risk was higher in adults than children. In adults, both the non carcinogenic and the carcinogenic risks decreased as the BMI increased. The health risks in both children and adults were below the USEPA safe limits of 1.0 and 1E-06 to 1E-04 for non carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks respectively. In conclusion, children were at a higher potential health risks due to heavy metals exposure than adults. It was recommended that the culture of testing boreholes and well water for heavy metals should be learned.