The Impact of Temperature, Sunlight and Time on the Quality of Drinking Water Stored in Polyethylene Terephthalate Bottle in Yola Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

The present study examined how sunlight radiation, temperature and time in Yola climate can affect the physicochemical properties of drinking water in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle in Yola Metropolis Nigeria. Conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, Cl^-, and NO₃ - were analyzed using standard methods for 42 days. Solvent extraction and GC-MS analysis were conducted periodically to monitor the appearance and identity of any migrant organic compounds. Sunlight exposure had the highest impact wherein conductivity, TDS, and COD trended upwards while pH decreased over time. However, Cl^- and NO₃- stayed constant. The GC-MS results showed the highest concentration of organic compounds in the sunlight exposed samples showing the molecular ion peak of benzene. Conversely, the negative control samples, stored in a cool dry place, showed no signs of leachates.