Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination in Lake Elementaita Drainage Basin, Kenya

Résumé

The future of Lake Elementaita, Kenya, hangs in the balance between environmental conservation and exploitation of the catchment resources for agricultural and industrial development. In the recent past the Lake has experienced water quality deterioration that is likely to lead to adverse ecological effects of the lake biodiversity. This study aimed at determining the impact of human activities in the catchment on contamination of heavy metals namely; cadmium, copper, lead and zinc. We collected water, sediments and soil samples from seven sites in the lake drainage basin to determine the extent of physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals concentrations. Samples for heavy metals determination were digested using aqua regia solution followed by perchloric acid and analysed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, while physico-chemical parameters were analysed using portable meters. Water pH ranged from 6.94 to 10.84, TDS from 0.07 g/L to 4.21 g/L, TSS from 0.01 g/L to 0.07 g/L, while electrical conductivity ranged from 0.14 mS/cm to 8.40 mS/cm. Heavy metals concentrations in water ranged from 0.04 mg/L to 3.14 mg/L, whereas the levels in sediments ranged from bdl to 134 mg/kg and from 2.78 mg/kg to 86.95 mg/kg in soil samples. Except for zinc, the levels of the rest of the metals in water were above WHO recommended limits for drinking water suggesting that the water is not safe for life. The results revealed that human activities are contributing to heavy metals contamination in Lake Elementaita drainage basin and management effort is required to control contamination to protect the lake ecosystem and biodiversity.

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