Arsenic level determination in selected well water from Sokoto state, Nigeria

Abstract

Twenty samples of domestic water sourced from different underground wells in the Gidan Dare and Gidan Igwai areas of Sokoto were collected and analyzed in the laboratory. The pH and the electrical conductivity (EC) of the water samples were also determined. The mean results obtained from the analyses were pH (7.68, 6.72) and electrical conductivities (1061µs/cm, 1057µs/cm) for Gidan Dare and Gidan Igwai, respectively. The results also showed mean arsenic concentrations of 0.110mg/L and 0.217mg/L for Gidan Dare and Gidan Igwai water samples, respectively, which are above the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water guidelines. Wells in Gidan Dare and Gidan Igwai were found to be contaminated with an abnormal concentration of arsenic, high enough to cause serious adverse health effects to its consumers. The high arsenic concentrations could be attributed to both natural and anthropogenic activities such as erosion, underground weathering, toxic chemicals, improper waste and sewage disposal waste from industries, agricultural activities and vehicular emissions.