Bacteriological and Physicochemical Assessment of Tannery Effluents from Chalawa Industrial Area, Kano State, Nigeria

This study assessed bacterial load and physicochemical parameters of tannery effluents in Chalawa industrial area, Kano State, Nigeria, and compared findings with WHO/NESREA standards.Effluent samples were analyzed for bacterial counts, pH, temperature, BOD, DO, TDS, TSS, and heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni) using standard procedures.Bacterial counts ranged from 3.710 to 5.110 CFU/ml, while a control fish pond effluent recorded 4.110 CFU/ml.Physicochemical analyses revealed alkaline pH values up to 12.10, Cr concentrations of 20.45-29.37 mg/L, Cd up to 0.009 mg/L, Pb up to 0.136 mg/L, and Ni up to 0.484 mg/L, all exceeding WHO/NESREA limits.These findings indicate significant environmental and health risks associated with untreated tannery effluents, highlighting the need for advanced treatment technologies and stricter policy enforcement.