Determination of heavy metals in surface and ground water systems and its public health implication in Osogbo town, Osun State

Portable sources of surface and groundwater are constantly polluted by anthropogenic activities and have negative impacts on human and animals’ health. This study investigated seasonal variation of heavy metals in Osun River and selected wells in Osogbo town, Osun State, Nigeria, to ascertain their public health impacts. Water samples from surface and groundwater systems were examined using PG990 atomic absorption spectrophotometer to determine heavy metal concentrations of surface and groundwater systems in Osogbo town, Osun State, Nigeria. The concentrations of 13 heavy metals (Arsenic, Copper, Cobalt, Lead, Nickel, Iron, Zinc, Chromium, Manganese, Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium and Potassium) in well (groundwater) and surface water (Osun River) were within international limits except for Cadmium and Mercury which were observed to be above 0.005mg/l limits in dry and wet seasons. This study showed that the surface and groundwater systems assessed were contaminated with heavy metals in dry and wet seasons which portend health risks to consumers in the study area. Also, there is a need for appropriate treatment and regulation of the activities of miners and residents that contribute to the contamination and pollution of these sources of portable water to forestall public health disasters in the study area.