ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS AND MICROBIAL LOADS WITHIN THE COAL MINES OF ANAMBRA BASIN, NORTH CENTRAL

The purpose of this study is to see how coal mining affects the drinking water quality of various water sources in Ankpa, Kogi State, Nigeria. Twenty (20) water samples were taken for physico-chemical (pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, and hardness) as well as microbiological (TPC, TC, and E. coli) and heavy metal (Fe, Pb, Cr, Cu, As, Cd, Hg, Mn, and Zn) analyses. The measured EC, TDS, chloride, and sulphate levels were all within WHO/NESREA guidelines. The amounts of heavy metals were generally modest across all water sources. Fe (0.01 – 0.180.048 mg/L), Pb (0.0006 – 0.0080.002 mg/L), Cu (0.004 – 0.040.014 mg/L), Mn (0.003 – 0.0320.0008 mg/L), and Zn (0.005 – 0.1920.057 mg/L) values were all within permitted limits. Water samples had total coliform counts ranging from 1.40102 to 2.00102. E.coli is a faecal contamination indicator bacteria found in S-2, S-6, S-9, S-10, S-15, and S-19. The heavy metal pollution index (HPI) was significantly lower than the critical limit of 100 (100). Metals in water samples had a low risk (HI1) across all age categories, according to the Hazard Index (HI). The cumulative Cancer Risk for the examined metals is similarly extremely low, indicating no harmful impacts on human health within the research region.

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