SPATIO-TEMPORAL VARIATIONS IN THE LEVEL OF CONCENTRATIONS OF THE HEAVY METALS IN THE UNRECLAIMED MINING PONDS IN BUKURU, JOS SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, PLATEAU STATE

This study examined the Assessment of Heavy Metals in unreclamed Mining Ponds in Jos South Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling was used to select 5 sampling points in Bukuru town, Jos South Local Government Area (L.G.A) mined out areas while a sampling point was chosen in Riyom (which serves as the control) for collection of water. The sampling points were chosen because they represented the best location for collecting the water samples in the mined-out areas and also suitable for easy sampling of the current contamination status given their accessibility and geospatial spread. The result of the analysis of the water samples using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) for 8 heavy metals which includes cadmium, manganese, mercury, copper, nickel, lead and zinc. Mean levels of Heavy metal were 0.04356ppm, 0.046290ppm, 0.001627ppm, 0.110409ppm, 0.025214ppm, 0.020995ppm, 0 .25077ppm for cadmium, manganese, Mercury, copper, nickel, lead and zinc respectively. Results show that mean concentrations of cadmium, manganese and Lead were higher when compared with the WHO/NESREA standards. The study recommends more reclamation initiatives towards planting phytochemical plants in the unreclaimed areas especially those that can lower the chemical concentrations of heavy metals such as Cadmium and Lead which were both high in surface water in both seasons and are very hazardous to human health. More so, there should be there should be constant surveillance and review of the pollution status of the heavy metals in the unreclaimed mines in the study area in order to monitor progress and ensure compliance.