ASSESSMENT OF EFFECT OF SANDMINING ACTIVITIES ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND METAL CONCENTRATIONS OF SURFACE WATER OF WARRI RIVER, NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA
The Warri River in Niger Delta, Nigeria is one river in which indiscriminate and commercial sand mining activities has been taking place in recent times. Thus, this study was carried out to assess the effect of sand mining activities on physicochemical properties and metal concentrations of surface water of the Warri River, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from six sand mining sites along the Warri River between January and December, 2016. The physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations of water samples were determined following the methods of the American Public Health Association. The result showed that electrical conductivity, turbidity, total suspended solids, total solids, salinity, total hardness, biological oxygen demand (BOD) and the heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni and Fe) exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) maximum permissible value. Temperature, pH, total dissolved solids, alkalinity, sulphate, nitrate, chloride, dissolved oxygen (DO) chemical oxygen demand (COD) calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and Zn were within/below their respective World Health Organization (WHO) maximum permissible value. Health risk assessment indicated no adverse non carcinogenic risk, whereas there was a potential carcinogenic risk associated with metals in the water while quality index values indicate unsuitability of the water for drinking purposes.