ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF EFFLUENT FROM ADAMA BEVERAGE LIMITED: IMPLICATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess Heavy Metal Concentrations and Physicochemical Properties of Effluent from Adama Beverage Limited: Implications for Environmental Compliance and Public Health. The specific objectives were to: determine the physicochemical characteristics including pH, temperature, conductivity, TDS, DO, BOD, and COD of effluent samples; quantify the concentrations of cadmium, chromium, iron, lead, and manganese; compare measured values against established regulatory standards; and discuss implications for environmental management and public health protection. The beverage industry produces large amounts of wastewater containing organic pollutants and heavy metals that can pose risks to the environment and public health if not adequately treated before discharge. In this study the physicochemical parameters and heavy metal concentrations in effluent samples from Adama Beverage Limited (ABL) in Yola, Nigeria were collected from the ABL wastewater discharge point on three separate occasions (designated ABL _WW1, ABL _WW2, and ABL _WW3) using standard sampling protocols, evaluated and compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) permissible limits. Three effluent samples, ABL _WW1, ABL _WW2, and ABL _WW3 were analyzed for pH, temperature, conductivity and total dissolved solids (TDS) using pH/conductivity meter (Jenway 430), dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) using DR Spectrometer and concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (model AA240FS Varian). Results indicated that pH values (6.09 ± 0.0071 to 6.21 ± 0.0100) fell below WHO guidelines (6.50 to 8.50) but within NESREA limits (6.00 to 9.00). Dissolved oxygen levels (1.2 ± 0.1000 to 1.4 ± 0.10000 mg/L) were critically below both WHO (>5 mg/L) and NESREA (>4 mg/L) standards, indicating significant organic pollution. Iron concentrations (6.982 ± 0.0007 to 8.038 ± 0.0011 mg/L) substantially exceeded WHO limits (0.3 mg/L) by approximately 23 to 27 times, while cadmium levels (0.008 ± 0.0002 to 0.010 ± 0.0003 mg/L) exceeded WHO guidelines (0.003 mg/L) by 2.7 to 3.3 times. However, chromium and lead were not detected and manganese was within acceptable limits. The results indicated significant non-compliance with international standards for water quality, especially with regard to DO depletion and iron contamination, which calls for improved interventions for wastewater treatment and stronger regulatory control to mitigate possible ecological and health risks. These findings can help regulators such as NESREA review national discharge limits, enforce stricter monitoring, and the methodology provides a replicable framework for other beverage industries in Nigeria to assess their environmental performance. Moreover, the results provide important information to local communities and public health officials to promote sound environmental management and protect downstream water users from potential heavy metal exposure.