Evaluation of heavy metal levels in sachet water produced in Damaturu, Yobe state, Nigeria Waziri M.1,*, Bomoi A. M.2 1Department of Chemistry, Yobe State University, P.M.B.1144, Damaturu, Nigeria 2Yobe State Ministry of Water Resources, Damaturu, Nigeria *Corresponding author: maimunakadai@yahoo.com
Online published on 24 March, 2014. Abstract The concentrations of heavy metals in sachet water samples produced and vended for drinking in Damaturu were analyzed for Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn, using the WAGTECH international physicochemical water analysis kit. The results obtained indicated that As and Pb were below the detectable limits in all the samples but all the locations showed variations in levels of the other tested heavy metals which occasionally fell above the Nigerian drinking water standards as stipulated by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). However, Fe which ranged between 1.00±0.001 mg/l to 7.00±0.01 mg/l was much higher than the permissible limit of 0.3 mg/l in all the examined samples. Therefore, it is important to monitor the levels of Fe and other heavy metals to meet the NAFDAC drinking water regulatory guidelines to safeguard the lives of the consumers. Top Keywords Heavy metals, NAFDAC, Permissible limit, Regulatory guidelines, Sachet water. Top |