THE EFFECT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON POLLUTION LEVEL IN WATERSIDE RIVER IN ABA, ABIA STATE (NIGERIA)
Abstract
This study determined some water quality indicators (biochemical oxygen demand, BOD, chemical oxygen demand, COD, dissolved oxygen, DO and total hardness, TH) of three-point samples of waterside River Ogbor hill Aba (WRO) and assessed the effect on rats hematology indices. The BOD, COD and OD (mg/L O2) respectively, of the Downstream-sample (21.52±0.01, 10.43±0.04, 31.41±0.01) was higher (p<0.05) than that for the Upstream (3.79±0.01, 7.61±0.01, 16.29±0.01), Midstream (3.20±0.00, 7.61±0.01, 14.84±0.02) and standard (3.00, NS, NS) while the TH (mg/L CaCO3) for the Downstream (20.04±0.01) was higher (p<0.05) than that for the Midstream (0.99±0.00) and Upstream (0.61±0.00) but lower (p<0.05) than that for the standard (500.00). The PVC (%) of the rats exposed to the various samples was lower (p<0.05) compared to the control but not significantly different (p>0.05) between the sample-treated groups. A similar trend was observed for the RBC (×109/L) and HGB (g/L) counts. The PVC (×109/L) of the groups exposed to the various samples was significantly different (p<0.05). However, while the platelet count of the rat groups exposed to Upstream and Downstream samples was lower (p<0.05), that of the Midstream sample was similar, compared to the control. The lower (p<0.05) WBC (×103/L) of the rats in the various sample-treated groups compared to the control was higher in the Midstream-treated rats followed by Upstream-treated while least in Downstreamtreated rats. Thus, the variously compromised quality of the three-point water samples from waterside River, Aba variously affected the studied hematological parameters of rats. Inherent self purification of river water may have resulted to the inconsistent observation which could be a pointer to underlying interplay of complex adverse biochemical responses, warranting further studies and interim urgent intervention measures to improve the quality status of WRO that serves as sole water source for a teaming residence.
