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Seasonal evaluation of the hydrogeochemical interpretations of groundwater quality: a case study from automobile junk waste in Obosi and Onitsha environs, Southeast Nigeria

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Abstract

Automobile junk waste in Obosi and residence in housing estate in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria, was studied for concern for human health. There is poor water quality for drinking, domestic and irrigation purposes. A seasonal study was conducted in the area for hydrogeochemical and microbial assessment for groundwater. To evaluate the release of the potentially toxic elements, 40 groundwater sources (borehole and hand-dug wells) were sampled. The groundwater was subjected to atomic absorption spectrometry and microbial methods. Particle size distributions for grain size analyses (for permeability) on the soils were conducted as a follow-up from previous study. Results show that the groundwater in the wet season (as a follow-up from dry season) is slightly acidic to neutral (6.04 to 6.54) when compared with the regulatory standards for drinking water. The heavy metal concentrations (in mg/L) in the groundwater included iron, chromium, zinc, nickel and lead that ranged from 0 to 0.73, 0 to 0.67, 0.52 to 6.45, 0 to 0.92 and 0 to 0.25 respectively. The microbial analysis in the groundwater recorded absent of faecal and lower counts of coliform (NTU) that ranged from 1.0 × 102 to 2.5 × 103 cfu/mL. The permeability K (in cm/s) is rated medium across the soils and ranged from 2.25 × 10−2 to 4.41 × 10−2. Geochemical thermodynamic modelling (PHREEQC) predicts iron oxyhydroxide phases as responsible minerals precipitating in the system. Paired t test showed no significant difference on iron and nickel at wet and dry seasons while other heavy metals are statistically significant.

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The data that supported the findings of this study are available from the authors upon request.

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Acknowledgements

The field work of this study is self funded. The authors wishes to express their profound gratitude to post-graduate student Okey Chukwura for assisting in the field, and the staff of the laboratories of the Energy Centre and Geology department in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Campus, for assisting in the laboratory. Appreciation also goes to Peter Nzoiwu for the support with the Statistical modelling tool. Proof-reader, Mr Nnaemeka Osoagba. We are also grateful to the anonymous reviewers for aiding to shape the final manuscript.

Funding

The research work is self-funded from the corresponding author’s PhD project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

    Uche O. Chukwura

  2. Department of Geology, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Ogbonnaya Igwe

Authors
  1. Uche O. Chukwura
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  2. Ogbonnaya Igwe
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study concept and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Uche O. Chukwura and assisted by post-graduate student Okey Chukwura and staff of the Energy Centre and Geology sieve analysis laboratories in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Campus, under the supervision of Ogbonnaya Igwe. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Uche O. Chukwura and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Uche O. Chukwura.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Responsible Editor: Broder J. Merkel

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Chukwura, U.O., Igwe, O. Seasonal evaluation of the hydrogeochemical interpretations of groundwater quality: a case study from automobile junk waste in Obosi and Onitsha environs, Southeast Nigeria. Arab J Geosci 14, 244 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-06643-0

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