Physicochemical Properties and Heavy Metals Analysis of Effluent Water from Selected Tannery Sites in Kano and Zaria

Abstract

The study was aimed to determine the physiochemical properties and heavy metal of effluent water sourced from tannery sites within Kano and Zaria metropolis. Effluent samples were taken from four different tannery sites: Kano and Zaria. Each sample was collected in plastic containers that were carefully rinsed with deionized water after being previously cleaned with detergents and 10% HNO3 acid. All of the samples were brought to the laboratory for analysis using standard methodology. The Results revealed pH (3.55-9.35), Electrical Conductivity(EC)(21410-224µs/cm), Total Suspended Solids(TSS) (2150-3546.60 mg/L) and Total Dissolved Solids(TDS) (1468-8260 mg/L) across the sites. Parameters such as EC, TSS and TDS were not in conformity with the WHO Standard except pH (9.35±3.55) for site1 from Kano metropolis. Heavy metal such as Cr (3.52-4.93 mg/L), Pb (1.35-2.7 mg/L), and Cu (1.24-1.82 mg/L) were not in tandem with WHO standard across the sampling sites except for Fe (4.64-8.32 mg/L) that conformed. The studied effluent water showed significant deviation from WHO standard and as such monitoring to treat/determine the safety level should be promoted.