HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON HEAVY METAL LEVELS IN PANKSHIN DAM, NIGERIA

Heavy metals, including mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), thallium (Tl), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb), are among the most prevalent toxic pollutants in aquatic systems. Even at low concentrations, these elements pose significant ecological and public health risks due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. Globally, anthropogenic activities, particularly agricultural practices, contribute up to 70% of water pollution, with additional inputs from animal rearing, fertilizer and pesticide application, fishing, recreational activities, improper irrigation, and indiscriminate chemical discharge. In Nigeria, freshwater sources crucial for human and economic development are increasingly threatened by such anthropogenic influences, leaving local communities vulnerable to deteriorating water quality. This study assessed the contributions of human activities to heavy metal contamination in Pankshin Dam, Plateau State, Nigeria, with emphasis on determining the levels of key heavy metals and evaluating their implications for domestic water use. The investigation underscores the necessity of monitoring and regulating agricultural and other anthropogenic practices around freshwater bodies. Given the dependence of surrounding communities on Pankshin Dam for drinking, farming, and fishing, the presence of toxic metals raises urgent concerns for human health and environmental sustainability. Findings from this research highlight the need for stricter enforcement of environmental protection policies, sustainable agricultural practices, and improved public awareness campaigns to reduce heavy metal pollution in freshwater ecosystems.