title: Lead in potable water sources in Abakaliki metropolis, South-East, Nigeria.
abstract: Lead concentration was analyzed in potable water samples (25 well water, 15 borehole water, 7 tap water and 3 stream/river water samples), collected randomly from 5 zones (Abakaliki urban, Azuiyiokwu, Kpirikpiri, Nkaliki and Onuebonyi/rice mill) in Abakaliki metropolis, South-East Nigeria, using Atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean ± SD lead levels of Tap, well, borehole and stream/river water were 0.13 ± 0.08, 1.04 ± 0.19, 0.78 ± 0.19 and 0.83 ± 0.22 mg/L, respectively. There was statistically significant difference (p = 0.016) in lead concentrations in well water, compared with tap water. The highest well water lead level was found in Azuiyiokwu whereas the highest level in borehole water was in Abakaliki urban.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), PMB. 01129, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria. madukaig@yahoo.com
authors.forename: C Maduka
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ignatius
authors.forename: E Neboh
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Emeka
authors.forename: J Ikekpeazu
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Ebele
authors.forename: I Okoro
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Otuu
authors.forename: A Ufelle
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Silas
authors.forename: A Onwusi
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Edwin
mesh_terms: D002947:Cities; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D009549:Nigeria; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014881:Water Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead