Abstract
This study measured eighteen heavy metals and estimated their health risks to humans in the Osun River flowing within the Osogbo metropolis. Seven different river water samples were measured for the metals using inductively coupled plasma coupled with an optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Sixteen metals were detected with concentrations order: Fe > Cu > B > Al > Ba > Mn > Cr > (Co, Pb) > As > V > Ti > Ag > Ni > Tl > Th; Cd and Mo were below the detection limits. While 86.5% of the total concentration (7362 µg/L) was dominantly shared by Fe (46.6%) and Cu (39.9%), all other metals contributed 13.5%. Fe, Cu, and Cr concentrations were more than the Nigerian and international standards for drinking water. Artisanal and farming activities, as well as petroleum products were the dominant sources of the metals as confirmed by statistical analyses. The hazard quotients were < 1.0, indicating the absence of non-carcinogenic risk. However, carcinogenic risk assessment confirmed that three metals surpassed the acceptable carcinogenic risk range: 1.0 × 10–6–1.0 × 10–4. Cr posed a very high risk (6.81 × 10–3–2.62 × 10–1) via ingestion and dermal pathways to adults and children. Arsenic showed carcinogenic risk ((1.41–5.35) × 10–4) by both pathways, except for children by dermal contact. Ni posed a low carcinogenic risk (9.65 × 10–4–1.96 × 10–3) only by dermal exposure. There is a need for legislative policies to prevent waste disposal into the river and an action plan for remediation.
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Anifowose, A.J., Salawudeen, C., Osundiya, F.O. et al. Estimation of health risk to humans and source identification of heavy metals in a perennial river across the Osogbo Metropolis, Nigeria. Environmental Sustainability 6, 45–58 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42398-022-00256-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42398-022-00256-3