Heavy Metals in Keana Salt Lake and Some Sources of Drinking Water Within the Keana Salt Lake Community, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Utilization of Salt Lake may portend risk in terms of environmental and human health. The study aimed at analyzing for selected metallic ions in Keana Salt Lake and sources of drinking water in Keana Salt Lake Community, so as to identify and determine the amount of heavy metals in comparison with WHO (World Health Organization) permissible limits. Heavy metals analyzed in the study includes Lead (mg/L), Cadmium (mg/L), Copper (mg/L), Iron (mg/L), Nickel (mg/L), Manganese (mg/L), Aluminum (mg/L), Zinc (mg/L), Cobalt (mg/L), Arsenic (mg/L) and Chromium (mg/L). Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used to analyze five samples collected in triplicates from well water (WW), Salt Lake water (SLW) Filtrate from salt lake water (FSLW), non-motorized borehole (BH1) and motorized borehole (BH2) located within Keana community, Nasarawa state, Nigeria. Study findings indicate that while Cobalt was not detected in any of the water samples, mean concentration values for Zinc, Copper and Alumunium were within permissible limits set by WHO. Furthermore, mean concentration values for Manganese, Chromium, Iron, Nickel, Cadmium, Lead and Arsenic exceeded WHO permissible limits. Mean concentration levels of some heavy metals analyzed in the study shows that utilizing water in the study area may be hazardous to environmental health. The study recommends regular treatment of water from the study area before utilization by the populace.