ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICANTS AND THEIR ECOLOGICAL AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: A STUDY OF FIVE LGAS IN KOGI STATE

Public health and environmental protection is increasingly becoming a serious concern for sustainable development and being disease free. Topography and slope aspects influence soil erosion and consequently have impact on the properties of soils. This study assessed the ecological and human health risk of environmental pollutants, their sources and water quality. Seventy-five (75) samples each of soil, plant and water samples were collected from five different local government areas of Kogi State, namely; Lokoja, Okehi, Ankpa, Yagba West, and Ajaokuta LGAs. The results showed that the mean concentration of heavy metals in the soils were in the order; Fe > Pb > Cr > Zn > Ni > Cu > Co > Sn > Sc > As > Cd. The heavy metals in the water was in the order; Fe > Zn ≥ Cr ≥ Pb ≥ Cu ≥ Ni ≥ Cd ≥ As ≥ Co. All the heavy metals in water were below their permissible levels for drinking water quality. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo), Contamination factor, Pollution load index (PLI) revealed that the overall pollution status of the soils ranged from no contamination to severe contamination while heavy metals posed low ecological and human health risk according to the ecological hazard factor and potential risk index. The human health risk assessment showed that children faced higher health risk than adults especially via the ingestion exposure pathway. The results of the physical, chemical and microbiological parameters of water quality revealed that most parameters measured were within and below the WHO/NSDWQ standard fr drinking water quality threshold except for the microbiological properties which were higher than the permissible limits for drinking water quality making the water not fit for drinking and other domestic uses. Regular soil and water testing and monitoring should be made mandatory for public health protection. Remediation of areas with heavy metals should be done to forestall further contamination and future hazards.