Studies on the Levels of Heavy Metal Ions in Stream and Borehole Water within Ibiaku Osuk Settlement, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

Ndifreke Bassey Nde* and Solomon Patrick Inyang

This study examined the concentration of heavy metals levels in-stream and borehole within Ibiaku Osuk settlement in Ibiono Ibom local government area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Heavy metals such as copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe) were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results obtained for stream water were iron (Fe) 0.010 ± 0.001 mg/L, nickel (Ni) 0.001 ± 0.001 mg/L, copper (Cu) 0.001 ± 0.001 mg/L, lead (Pb) 0.001 ± 0.001 mg/L and cadmium (Cd) 0.001 ± 0.001 mg/L. For borehole water; the results were iron (Fe) 0.004 ± 0.001 mg/L, nickel (Ni) 0.003 ± 0.002 mg/L, copper (Cu) 0.001 ± 0.001 mg/L, lead (Pb) 0.001 ± 0.001 mg/L and cadmium (Cd) 0.001 ± 0.001 mg/L. the results indicated that the heavy metals concentrations of the stream and borehole water were within the national and international permissible limits. Therefore, water from streams and boreholes within the studied area is free from heavy metal contamination.