Levels of heavy metals in wastewater and soil samples from open drainage channels in Nairobi, Kenya: community health implication

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorKamau, Luna
dc.contributor.authorKinuthia, Geoffrey K.
dc.contributor.authorNgure, Veronica
dc.contributor.authorBeti, Dunstone
dc.contributor.authorLugalia, Reuben
dc.contributor.authorWangila, Agnes
dc.date.accessioned2024-05-16T07:43:08Z
dc.date.available2024-05-16T07:43:08Z
dc.date.issued2020
dc.descriptionJournal Article
dc.description.abstractLevels of Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni) & Thallium (Tl) were established in wastewater & soil samples obtained from 8 sites in open drainage channels at Nairobi industrial area, Kenya. Ultra-trace inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) was used for metal analysis. Temperature, pH & turbidity of wastewater ranged from 16.75 to 26.05 °C; 7.28 to 8.78; 160.33 to 544.69 ppm respectively and within World Health Organization (WHO) allowable limits. Wastewater conductivities in 4 sites ranged from 770 to 1074 μS/cm and above WHO limits at 25 °C. The mean concentrations of the metals in wastewater ranged from 0.0001 to 0.015 ppm in an ascending order of Tl <Cd <Hg <Ni <Cr <Pb. Levels of Cd, Cr & Ni in wastewater were within WHO, World Bank (WB), United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), China, Kenya and India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) limits while Hg & Tl were above US EPA limits. The mean Pb levels in wastewater (5 sites) were above WHO, US EPA and Kenya allowable limits. Mean levels of the metals in soil samples ranged from 0.085 to 199.99 ppm, with those of Hg, Pb, Cr, Cd & Ni being above WHO limits for agricultural soils. Positive correlations (P < 0.05) for Cd & Hg in soils; and Tl (wastewater) & Cd (soil) were noted. In conclusion, wastewater in open waste channels at Nairobi industrial area had elevated levels of Pb and Hg, while the soil from the same channels had high levels of Hg, Pb, Ni, Cr, and Cd. Good management of Nairobi industrial area effluents is inevitable since it borders densely populated informal settlements which are likely to suffer exposure to toxic wastes. Effective wastewater treatment and reuse is highly recommended.
dc.identifier.citationKinuthia G. K., Ngure V., Beti D., Lugalia R., Wangila A. & Kamau L. (2020): Levels of heavy metals in wastewater and soil samples from open drainage channels in Nairobi, Kenya: community health implication. Scientific Report. Article Link https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-65359-5
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.daystar.ac.ke/handle/123456789/4640
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherScientific Reports
dc.titleLevels of heavy metals in wastewater and soil samples from open drainage channels in Nairobi, Kenya: community health implication
dc.typeArticle

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Levels of heavy metals in wastewater and soil samples from open drainage channels in Nairobi, Kenya community health implication (G Kinuthia).pdf
Size:
1.67 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Journal Articles