The assessment of bore-hole water quality of Kakamega County, Kenya
Abstract Numerous deleterious impacts of anthropogenic activities on water quality are typically observed in areas bursting with mineral exploitation, agricultural activities, and industrial processes. Therefore, this contribution details the water quality and water origin in selected hand-dug wells...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Applied Water Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13201-018-0688-8 |
| _version_ | 1817997439012962304 |
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| author | Adika A. Christine Joshua K. Kibet Ambsrose K. Kiprop Munyendo L. Were |
| author_facet | Adika A. Christine Joshua K. Kibet Ambsrose K. Kiprop Munyendo L. Were |
| author_sort | Adika A. Christine |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Numerous deleterious impacts of anthropogenic activities on water quality are typically observed in areas bursting with mineral exploitation, agricultural activities, and industrial processes. Therefore, this contribution details the water quality and water origin in selected hand-dug wells of one the most prominent mining areas in Kenya (Kakamega County). The toxicological impacts of drinking water from a mining site may include cancer and genetic aberrations largely because of the toxic effects of waterborne metals including Hg and As. Accordingly, this study focuses primarily on the investigation of heavy metals, essential elements such as Na and K. Heavy metals and essential elements were determined using spectroscopic and titrimetric techniques. The study revealed that mercury (Hg) concentration ranged between 0.00256 and 0.0611 ± 0.00005 mg/L while arsenic (As) concentration ranged from 0.0103 to 0.0119 ± 0.00005 mg/L. The concentration of potassium ranged from 2.53 to 4.08 ± 0.15 mg/L while that of sodium varied from 6.74 to 9.260 ± 0.2 mg/L. Although the concentration of cadmium was lower than that recommended by W.H.O, the concentrations of Hg, Pb, and As in Kakamega waters were higher than the internationally accepted levels. The generally high level of heavy metals in Kakamega bore-hole waters is, therefore, a public health concern that needs immediate intervention. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:37:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cc3065e2fa7949058b54ed5dadb42578 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2190-5487 2190-5495 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:37:02Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Water Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-cc3065e2fa7949058b54ed5dadb425782022-12-22T02:17:21ZengSpringerOpenApplied Water Science2190-54872190-54952018-03-01811810.1007/s13201-018-0688-8The assessment of bore-hole water quality of Kakamega County, KenyaAdika A. Christine0Joshua K. Kibet1Ambsrose K. Kiprop2Munyendo L. Were3Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Moi UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, Egerton UniversityDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Moi UniversityDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Moi UniversityAbstract Numerous deleterious impacts of anthropogenic activities on water quality are typically observed in areas bursting with mineral exploitation, agricultural activities, and industrial processes. Therefore, this contribution details the water quality and water origin in selected hand-dug wells of one the most prominent mining areas in Kenya (Kakamega County). The toxicological impacts of drinking water from a mining site may include cancer and genetic aberrations largely because of the toxic effects of waterborne metals including Hg and As. Accordingly, this study focuses primarily on the investigation of heavy metals, essential elements such as Na and K. Heavy metals and essential elements were determined using spectroscopic and titrimetric techniques. The study revealed that mercury (Hg) concentration ranged between 0.00256 and 0.0611 ± 0.00005 mg/L while arsenic (As) concentration ranged from 0.0103 to 0.0119 ± 0.00005 mg/L. The concentration of potassium ranged from 2.53 to 4.08 ± 0.15 mg/L while that of sodium varied from 6.74 to 9.260 ± 0.2 mg/L. Although the concentration of cadmium was lower than that recommended by W.H.O, the concentrations of Hg, Pb, and As in Kakamega waters were higher than the internationally accepted levels. The generally high level of heavy metals in Kakamega bore-hole waters is, therefore, a public health concern that needs immediate intervention.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13201-018-0688-8Hand-dug wellsHeavy metalsToxicityWater quality |
| spellingShingle | Adika A. Christine Joshua K. Kibet Ambsrose K. Kiprop Munyendo L. Were The assessment of bore-hole water quality of Kakamega County, Kenya Applied Water Science Hand-dug wells Heavy metals Toxicity Water quality |
| title | The assessment of bore-hole water quality of Kakamega County, Kenya |
| title_full | The assessment of bore-hole water quality of Kakamega County, Kenya |
| title_fullStr | The assessment of bore-hole water quality of Kakamega County, Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | The assessment of bore-hole water quality of Kakamega County, Kenya |
| title_short | The assessment of bore-hole water quality of Kakamega County, Kenya |
| title_sort | assessment of bore hole water quality of kakamega county kenya |
| topic | Hand-dug wells Heavy metals Toxicity Water quality |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13201-018-0688-8 |
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