Bioavailability of metals in the Funtua textile wastewater, north western Nigeria

Abstract

Textile wastewater pose a significant threat to surface water especially the water bodies closer to the textile industry locations. The study investigated the bioavailability of cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr) in wastewater from ten sampling points including wastewater from point of effluent discharge in Funtua textile across Funtua region. The trends in the metal bioavailability (mg/L) among the fractions were; Zn Cu: total> mobile > dissolved > particulate; Pb: total> particulate > mobile> dissolved; Ni: total> particulate > dissolved> mobile; Cr: total > particulate > mobile > dissolved, respectively. All the concentrations of the metal ions were above the WHO (2006) and USEPA (2000) tolerable limits across the sites, with the exception of Co which was not detected in all the fractions. While lead and chromium was detected in S1, S2 and S1, S10, respectively. The order of the metals bioavailability was; total>mobile>dissolved>particulate, with more than 50% found in the bioavailable phase. Hence, the surface waters within the vicinity of the textile industry were greatly at risk of being polluted by these toxic metals and subsequently affecting the inhabitants who use the water for agricultural and other domestic activities untreated, through the food chain transfer. The health implications associated with the toxic metals include an irreversible damage to nervous system, gastric and intestinal disorder, heart disease, liver, brain damage, mental retardation and teratogenic effects.