Health Risks from Intake and Contact with Toxic Metal-Contaminated Water from Pager River, Uganda
Pollution of water resources is one of the major impediments to the realization of Sustainable Development Goals, especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the physicochemical quality and potentially toxic element (lead and cadmium) concentrations in surface water...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Xenobiotics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/13/4/35 |
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| author | Patrick Onen Robin Akemkwene Caroline K. Nakiguli Daniel Nimusiima Daniel Hendry Ruma Alice V. Khanakwa Christopher Angiro Gadson Bamanya Boniface Opio Allan Gonzaga Timothy Omara |
| author_facet | Patrick Onen Robin Akemkwene Caroline K. Nakiguli Daniel Nimusiima Daniel Hendry Ruma Alice V. Khanakwa Christopher Angiro Gadson Bamanya Boniface Opio Allan Gonzaga Timothy Omara |
| author_sort | Patrick Onen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pollution of water resources is one of the major impediments to the realization of Sustainable Development Goals, especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the physicochemical quality and potentially toxic element (lead and cadmium) concentrations in surface water sampled from Pager River, a tributary of the Nile River in Northern Uganda. Water samples (<i>n</i> = 18) were taken from six different points upstream (A, B, and C) and downstream (D, E, and F) of the river and analyzed following standard methods for their physiochemical properties. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to quantify lead and cadmium concentrations. Human health risks from ingestion and dermal contact with potentially toxic metal-contaminated water were calculated. The results obtained indicated that the mean temperature (27.7 ± 0.5–29.5 ± 0.8 °C), turbidity (40.7 ± 2.1–50.1 ± 1.1 NTU), lead (0.296 ± 0.030–0.576 ± 0.163 mg/L) and cadmium (0.278 ± 0.040–0.524 ± 0.040 mg/L) occurred at levels that surpassed their permissible limits as per World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water. Human health risk assessment showed that there are potential non-cancer risks from the ingestion of water from Pager River by adults, as the total hazard quotients were greater than one. These results emphasize the urgency to restrict the dumping of wastes into the river to minimize chances of impacting the Nile River, which flows northwards to the Mediterranean Sea. Further studies should perform routine monitoring of the river during both dry and wet seasons to establish the spatiotemporal variations of physicochemical, microbial, and trace metal profiles of the river and the associated health risks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:37:00Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2039-4705 2039-4713 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:37:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Xenobiotics |
| spelling | doaj.art-91753a43bbc6480db8fe4d7d209f2fee2023-12-22T14:19:40ZengMDPI AGJournal of Xenobiotics2039-47052039-47132023-09-0113454455910.3390/jox13040035Health Risks from Intake and Contact with Toxic Metal-Contaminated Water from Pager River, UgandaPatrick Onen0Robin Akemkwene1Caroline K. Nakiguli2Daniel Nimusiima3Daniel Hendry Ruma4Alice V. Khanakwa5Christopher Angiro6Gadson Bamanya7Boniface Opio8Allan Gonzaga9Timothy Omara10Department of Chemistry, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695581, IndiaDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Education and Humanities, Gulu University, Gulu P.O. Box 166, UgandaDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, UgandaDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, UgandaDepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Kyambogo University, Kampala P.O. Box 1, UgandaDepartment of Environmental Health and Disease Prevention, Faculty of Public Health, Lira University, Lira P.O. Box 1035, UgandaSchool of Water, Energy and Environment, Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UKDepartment of Physical Sciences, Kampala International University, Kampala P.O. Box 20000, UgandaDepartment of Science and Vocational Education, Lira University, Lira P.O. Box 1035, UgandaDepartment of Physical Sciences, Kampala International University, Kampala P.O. Box 20000, UgandaChemistry Division, Testing Department, Uganda National Bureau of Standards, Kampala P.O. Box 6329, UgandaPollution of water resources is one of the major impediments to the realization of Sustainable Development Goals, especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the physicochemical quality and potentially toxic element (lead and cadmium) concentrations in surface water sampled from Pager River, a tributary of the Nile River in Northern Uganda. Water samples (<i>n</i> = 18) were taken from six different points upstream (A, B, and C) and downstream (D, E, and F) of the river and analyzed following standard methods for their physiochemical properties. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to quantify lead and cadmium concentrations. Human health risks from ingestion and dermal contact with potentially toxic metal-contaminated water were calculated. The results obtained indicated that the mean temperature (27.7 ± 0.5–29.5 ± 0.8 °C), turbidity (40.7 ± 2.1–50.1 ± 1.1 NTU), lead (0.296 ± 0.030–0.576 ± 0.163 mg/L) and cadmium (0.278 ± 0.040–0.524 ± 0.040 mg/L) occurred at levels that surpassed their permissible limits as per World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water. Human health risk assessment showed that there are potential non-cancer risks from the ingestion of water from Pager River by adults, as the total hazard quotients were greater than one. These results emphasize the urgency to restrict the dumping of wastes into the river to minimize chances of impacting the Nile River, which flows northwards to the Mediterranean Sea. Further studies should perform routine monitoring of the river during both dry and wet seasons to establish the spatiotemporal variations of physicochemical, microbial, and trace metal profiles of the river and the associated health risks.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/13/4/35average daily dosecancer riskestimated daily intaketarget hazard quotienttoxic metals |
| spellingShingle | Patrick Onen Robin Akemkwene Caroline K. Nakiguli Daniel Nimusiima Daniel Hendry Ruma Alice V. Khanakwa Christopher Angiro Gadson Bamanya Boniface Opio Allan Gonzaga Timothy Omara Health Risks from Intake and Contact with Toxic Metal-Contaminated Water from Pager River, Uganda Journal of Xenobiotics average daily dose cancer risk estimated daily intake target hazard quotient toxic metals |
| title | Health Risks from Intake and Contact with Toxic Metal-Contaminated Water from Pager River, Uganda |
| title_full | Health Risks from Intake and Contact with Toxic Metal-Contaminated Water from Pager River, Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Health Risks from Intake and Contact with Toxic Metal-Contaminated Water from Pager River, Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health Risks from Intake and Contact with Toxic Metal-Contaminated Water from Pager River, Uganda |
| title_short | Health Risks from Intake and Contact with Toxic Metal-Contaminated Water from Pager River, Uganda |
| title_sort | health risks from intake and contact with toxic metal contaminated water from pager river uganda |
| topic | average daily dose cancer risk estimated daily intake target hazard quotient toxic metals |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/13/4/35 |
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