Selected Heavy Metal (Zn, Pb and Cd) Pollution in Soil and Water from Marakwet East and Marakwet West, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2200/aerj.v5i1.50Abstract
Heavy metal pollution has become a global public health issue, aggravated by human activities in the world leading to food and drinking water quality challenges. The present study aimed at assessing selected heavy metal (Zn, Pb and Cd) pollution in soil and water from Marakwet East and Marakwet West, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. The sampling sites namely the Chepkaitit, Moiben, Embobut, Arror, Mon, and Mosongu Rivers, were purposively selected. Water samples were collected from three sites of each River during rainy and dry season. Three composites consisting of three subsets of soils were also collected from the Marakwet East and Marakwet West during the rainy and dry seasons. The soil samples came from the same areas as the water samples. Collected samples were transported to the University of Eldoret laboratory where analysis was done using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Data was analysed using Analysis of Variance and Correlation analysis and results were presented using graphs, figures and distribution tables. In water samples, Zn concentrations were higher during wet season than dry season (p>0.05). Zn levels in water samples increased significantly from 0.212 ppm upstream to 0.225 ppm midstream. There was significant increase in Cd levels from 0.066 ppm upstream to 0.068 ppm midstream. Soil samples collected during wet season from R. Chepkaitit recorded Cd levels of 0.071, 0.078 and 0.053 ppm at upstream, midstream and downstream respectively. Similarly, Pb levels increased from 0.470 ppm to 0.720 ppm to 0.791 ppm in water samples collected from upstream, midstream and downstream of R. Mon respectively. The concentration of pb and Cd in some water and soil samples exceeded the WHO standards. The study recommends that the health personnel from the ministry of Agriculture and health from Elgeyo Marakwet County should train and screen the local residents on the sources and health effects of heavy metals poisoning.
References
Adal, A., & Tarabar, A. (2013). Heavy metal toxicity. Medscape. Lenntech water treatment and air purification.(2004) Water treatment. Published by Lenntech, Rotterdamseweg, Netherlands (http://www. excelwater. com/thp/filters/Water-Purification. htm.
Akenga, T., Kerich, E., Kiplagat, A., & Sudoi, V. (2020). Health Risk Assessment Levels of Selected Heavy Metals on Solanum Nigrum, Soils and Water Collected Along River Moiben, Uasin-Gishu County, Kenya.
Akenga, T., Ayabei, K., Kerich, E., Sudoi, V., & Kuya, C. (2020). Evaluation of Levels of Selected Heavy Metals in Kales, Soils and Water Collected from Irrigated Farms along River Moiben, Uasin-Gishu County, Kenya. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 8(02), 144.
Akenga, T., Sudoi, V., Kerich, E., Machuka, W., & Ronoh, E. (2019). Selected Heavy Metals Concentration in Maize Grains and Leaves in Homahills, Homabay County. African Journal of Education, Science and Technology, 5(3), 50-58.
Akenga, T., Sudoi, V., Opande, W., & Kerich, E. (2016). Status of Agricultural Soil Contamination by Heavy Metals in Uasin Gishu County. Journal of Environment and Earth Science Vol.6, No.11,
Ali, H., Khan, E., & Ilahi, I. (2019). Environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology of hazardous heavy metals: environmental persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulation. Journal of chemistry, 2019.
APHA. 1998. Standards Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 20th edition, American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C
Asati, A., Pichhode, M., & Nikhil, K. (2016). Effect of heavy metals on plants: an overview. International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management, 5(3), 56-66.
Balali-Mood, M., Naseri, K., Tahergorabi, Z., Khazdair, M. R., & Sadeghi, M. (2021). Toxic mechanisms of five heavy metals: Mercury, Lead, Chromium, Cadmium, and Arsenic. Frontiers in pharmacology, 12.
Bohra, A., Sanadhya, D., & Chauhan, R. (2015). Heavy Metal Toxicity and Tolerance in Plants with Special Reference to Cadmium: A Review. Journal of Plant Science Research, 31(1).
Buzea, C., & Pacheco, I. (2020). Heavy Metals: Definition, Toxicity, and Uptake in Plants. In Cellular and Molecular Phytotoxicity of Heavy Metals (pp. 1-17). Springer, Cham.
Gill, M. (2014). Heavy metal stress in plants: a review. Int J Adv Res, 2(6), 1043-1055.
Githaiga, K. B., Njuguna, S. M., Gituru, R. W., & Yan, X. (2021). Water quality assessment, multivariate analysis and human health risks of heavy metals in eight major lakes in Kenya. Journal of Environmental Management, 297, 113410.
Hertwich, E. (2010). Assessing the environmental impacts of consumption and production: priority products and materials. UNEP/Earthprint.
Issazadeh, K., Jahanpour, N., Pourghorbanali, F., Raeisi, G., & Faekhondeh, J. (2013). Heavy metals resistance by bacterial strains. Annals of Biological Research, 4(2), 60-63.
Jain, J., & Gauba, P. (2017). Heavy metal toxicity-implications on metabolism and health. Int J Pharma Bio Sci, 8(4), 452-460.
Jepkoech, J. (2013). Selected heavy metals in water and sediments and their bioconcentrations in plant (Polygonum pulchrum) in Sosiani River, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, University of Eldoret).
Kemboi, J. O., Simiyu, G. M., Kipkorir, E. C., & Wakhisi, J. (2018). Selected Heavy Metal Levels in Cereals in Fluorspar Mining Belt, Elgeyo Marakwet County in Kenya. Africa Environmental Review Journal, 3(1), 65-73.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. (2019). The 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Population by County and Sub-county. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
Khan, A., Khan, S., Khan, M. A., Qamar, Z., & Waqas, M. (2015). The uptake and bioaccumulation of heavy metals by food plants, their effects on plants nutrients, and associated health risk: a review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22(18), 13772-13799.
Khan, A., Khan, S., Khan, M. A., Qamar, Z., & Waqas, M. (2015). The uptake and bioaccumulation of heavy metals by food plants, their effects on plants nutrients, and associated health risk: a review. Environmental science and pollution research, 22(18), 13772-13799.
Khan, M. H. A., & Parvez, S. (2015). Hesperidin ameliorates heavy metal induced toxicity mediated by oxidative stress in brain of Wistar rats. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 31, 53-60.
Kipruto, M. S., & Mweu, N. C. (2019). Levels of heavy metals in Nakuru Town, Kenya and the surrounding farmland soils. International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2(1), 16-27.
Koger, S. M., Schettler, T., & Weiss, B. (2005). Environmental toxicants and developmental disabilities: a challenge for psychologists. American Psychologist, 60(3), 243.
Konuk, M., Ciğerci, İ. H., & Korcan, S. E. (2010). ALAD (δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase) as biosensor for Pb contamination. Intelligent and biosensors. Intech, Rijeka, 363-376.
Kumar, S., Prasad, S., Yadav, K.K., Shrivastava, M., Gupta, N., Nagar, S., Bach, Q.V., Kamyab, H., Khan, S.A., Yadav, S. and Malav, L.C., (2019). Hazardous heavy metals contamination of vegetables and food chain: Role of sustainable remediation approaches-A review. Environmental research, 179, p.108792.
Mahurpawar, M. (2015). Effects of heavy metals on human health. International Journal of Research-Granthaalayah, 3(9SE), 1-7.
Maurya, A., Kesharwani, L., & Mishra, M. K. (2018). Analysis of heavy metal in soil through atomic absorption spectroscopy for forensic consideration. Int. J. Res. Appl. Sci. Eng. Technol, 6(6), 1188-1192.
Misoi, S. K., Odwori, P. O., & Sumukwo, J. (2019). Benefits Flow and Utilization of Kipkunur Forest Products by Upstream and Downstream Users, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya.
Morais, S., Costa, F. G., & Pereira, M. D. L. (2012). Heavy metals and human health. Environmental health–emerging issues and practice, 10(1), 227-245.
Muiruri, J. M., Nyambaka, H. N., & Nawiri, M. P. (2013). Heavy metals in water and tilapia fish from Athi-Galana-Sabaki tributaries, Kenya. International Food Research Journal, 20(2).
Murkomen, L. (2019). Climate variability adaptation using fodder crops: a case study of Marakwet East Sub-county, Elgeyo–Marakwet County (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi).
Ndungu, A. W., Yan, X., Makokha, V. A., Githaiga, K. B., & Wang, J. (2019). Occurrence and risk assessment of heavy metals and organochlorine pesticides in surface soils, Central Kenya. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering, 17(1), 63-73.
Ogunkunle, A. T. J., Bello, O. S., & Ojofeitimi, O. S. (2014). Determination of heavy metal contamination of street-vended fruits and vegetables in Lagos state, Nigeria. International Food Research Journal, 21(5).
Oves, M., Saghir Khan, M., Huda Qari, A., Nadeen Felemban, M., & Almeelbi, T. (2016). Heavy metals: biological importance and detoxification strategies. Journal of Bioremediation and Biodegradation, 7(2), 1-15.
Oyugi, A. M., Kibet, J. K., & Adongo, J. O. (2021). A review of the health implications of heavy metals and pesticide residues on khat users. Bulletin of the National Research Centre, 45(1), 1-22.
Plessl, C., Otachi, E. O., Körner, W., Avenant-Oldewage, A., & Jirsa, F. (2017). Fish as bioindicators for trace element pollution from two contrasting lakes in the Eastern Rift Valley, Kenya: spatial and temporal aspects. Environmental science and pollution research, 24(24), 19767-19776.
Sankhla, M. S., Kumari, M., Nandan, M., Kumar, R., & Agrawal, P. (2016). Heavy metals contamination in water and their hazardous effect on human health-a review. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. App. Sci (2016), 5(10), 759-766.
Subhashini, V., & Swamy, A. V. V. S. (2013). Phytoremediation of Pb and Ni Contaminated Soils Using Catharanthus roseus (L.). Universal Journal of Environmental Research & Technology, 3(4).
Tein, B., Kauer, K., Eremeev, V., Luik, A., Selge, A., & Loit, E. (2014). Farming systems affect potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber and soil quality. Field Crops Research, 156, 1-11.
Tomno, R. M., Nzeve, J. K., Mailu, S. N., Shitanda, D., & Waswa, F. (2020). Heavy metal contamination of water, soil and vegetables in urban streams in Machakos municipality, Kenya. Scientific African, 9, e00539.
Tomno, R. M., Nzeve, J. K., Mailu, S. N., Shitanda, D., & Waswa, F. (2020). Heavy metal contamination of water, soil and vegetables in urban streams in Machakos municipality, Kenya. Scientific African, 9, e00539.
Tribovillard, N., Algeo, T. J., Lyons, T., & Riboulleau, A. (2006). Trace metals as paleoredox and paleoproductivity proxies: an update. Chemical geology, 232(1-2), 12-32.
