Physicochemical quality of pharmaceutical effluents from parts of south-eastern Nigeria.

The physicochemical quality of four pharmaceutical effluent samples (A-D) from three South-Eastern states were assessed. Physicochemical parameters like temperature, pH, redox potential, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids, chloride, nitrite, phosphate, and sulphate were monitored. Results obtained revealed that temperature ranged from 250 C - 320 C, pH 4.4 - 5.3, redox potential 80 mg/l - 128 mg/l), electrical conductivity 780 μs/cm – 1180 μs/cm, total dissolved solids 60mg/l – 636 mg/l, turbidity 55.6 mg/l -1000 mg/l, dissolved oxygen 2.51 mg/l - 3.22 mg/l, BOD 114.20 mg/l -442.6 mg/l, COD 303 mg/l – 1319 mg/l, TSS 1094 mg/l – 6426 mg/l, chloride concentration 0.014 mg/l -314 mg/l, nitrite concentration 0.14 mg/l - 1.026 mg/l, phosphate concentration 0.32mg/l - 5.344mg/l while sulphate concentration ranged from 0.865 mg/l - 17.302 mg/l. Results obtained were compared to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) and Federal Ministry of Environment limits for effluent. All samples showed an acidic pH. BOD, COD, and TSS values significantly exceeded the FEPA limit, while DO was very low in all samples. Chloride, nitrite, phosphate, and sulphate concentrations were within the acceptable FEPA limits for effluent. The findings of this study have elucidated the need for improved effluent treatment systems, stricter enforcement of environmental regulations, and routine water quality monitoring to mitigate ecological impact.