Assessment of Heavy Metals in Effluent Water Discharges from Textile Industry and River Water at Close Proximity: A Comparison of Two Textile Industries from Funtua and Zaria, North Western Nigeria

Abstract

Environmental problems of the textiles industries are mainly cause by the discharge of wastewater coming from the dyeing and finishing processes containing the heavy metals. This study assessed the heavy metals concentrations in the surface water body of neighboring Funtua and Zaria textile industry and effluent water collected from Funtua textile industry using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). The concentrations of heavy metals like Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn) and Coppernicium (Cn) were assessed and the concentrations of each of the metals varies in the samples collected and analyzed with the following values: Funtua water samples Fe 0.0025 mg/l lower part and 1.63 mg/l upper part, Zn 0.51 mg/l lower part and 1.02 mg/l upper part, Pb 0.007 mg/l lower part and 0.61 mg/l upper part, Cd 0.01 mg/l lower part and 0.016 upper part, Cn was not detected (ND), for effluent Fe 3.61 mg/l and 2.61 mg/l, Pb 2.66 mg/l and 2.69 mg, Cd 0.99 mg/l and 1.06 mg/l, Zn 2.26 mg/l and 2.99 mg/l, Cn ND also and for Zaria water samples Fe 0.96 mg/l lower part and 2.15 mg/l upper part, Zn 1.07 mg/l lower part and 1,74 mg/l upper part, Pb 0.36 mg/l lower part and 1.02 mg/l upper part, Cd 0.41 mg/l lower part and 0.66 mg/l upper part and Cn ND also. Fe and Pb showed concentrations higher than limits set by the NSDWQ and WHO while Zn and Cd showed concentrations below limits set by NSDWQ and WHO. The river neighboring Zaria textile happened to be more polluted than the one neighboring Funtua textile industry. It was concluded that the effluent samples of textile industries discharge causes pollution to the water bodies and serious problem for living being and ecological environment. Therefore, the effluent water to be discharged by these industries must be adequately treated before discharge.

Keywords: Heavy Metal; Effluent; Water; Textiles Industries