Physico-chemical, Heavy Metal and Microbial Analysis of Wastewater Discharged from Selected Laboratories in Bowen University, Nigeria

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Abstract The improper discharge of chemical compounds from laboratory activities into the natural environment can lead to the pollution of water resources and risks to human health. Physical, chemical, heavy metals, and microbial analyses of wastewater from selected Bowen University Laboratories were carried out to ascertain the magnitude of the effects of its pollution on entire students, staff, and the environment. The physicochemical parameters were determined using standard laboratory procedures. Concentrations of metals were determined utilizing a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Quality assurance techniques involved blank determination, recovery analyses, and calibration of standards were applied. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data interpretations which indicated significant differences at a 95% level. The contents range of metals were: 0.345 – 7.651, 3.644 – 9.296, 54.986 – 84.749, 0.012 – 10.222, 8.032 – 12.031, and 1.001 – 23.265 µg/ml for Cu, Cr, Fe, Pb, Mn, and Zn respectively, while Cd was not detected at all in the samples. Their increase in mean concentration was in this order: Fe > Zn >Mn >Pb > Cr > Cu > Cd. Microbial analysis methods were also done where gram stain reaction, biochemical tests, and fermentation tests were used to identify the pure isolate in the sample. The work has shown that almost all physicochemical parameters monitored were either within or below the limit set by the Federal Ministry of Environmental for industrial effluent. From microbial studies, the most occurring bacteria was Protues miraculous while Enterobacter cloacae, Streptococcus sp, and Salmonella sp are the least occurring organism that has the potential to become pathogens and cause a wide range of diseases. It is therefore recommended that periodic assessment of both physicochemical, metals, and microbial analysis of the wastewater in the laboratories should be carried out, as this would be helpful in the early detection of any future degradation.

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