INVESTIGATING WATER CONTAMINATION BY LITHIUM MINING ACTIVITY IN ANGWA-KEDE, KOKONA LGA, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Lithium mining in Nigeria poses lots of concern due to the uncontrolled mining practices used at different mining site as seen in various states where lithium ore is mined. Due to this, water samples were obtained from the host community and lithium mining pits in Angwa-Kede, Kokona LGA, Nasarawa State, Nigeria to check the level of lithium contamination in the water samples. The water samples were taken to the laboratory and analyzed using flame test analysis. Water sample results from the host community revealed that the lithium concentration ranges from 0.0093 to 0.0325 ppm Li which is higher than the standard value of 0.01 ppm Li thus indicating water toxicity while water samples from mining site ranges from 0.152 to 0.788 ppm Li. The mining risk factor (Rf) values for water quality at the mining site were found to be 0.012, 0.02, 0.034, 0.065, 0.154 which are quite low and this can be attributed to constant dewatering process at the mining site while the mining Rf values for water samples from host community were found to be 1.098 (River: Moderately high) and 0.285 (Borehole: Low), respectively. In conclusion, the flame test analysis result for all the water samples from the host community (River and Bore Hole) reveals the presence of lithium at concentrations that appear to be detrimental to human health. Accumulative amount of such lithium concentration in human body/blood could result to bipolar disease hence the need for water treatment and a more controlled mining practice.