National Horticultural Research Institute of Nigeria, P.O. Box 29662, Secretariat Post Office, Idi-Ishin, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Chemical Sciences, Co
Akintola, O.A., National Horticultural Research Institute of Nigeria, P.O. Box 29662, Secretariat Post Office, Idi-Ishin, Ibadan, Nigeria; Sangodoyin, A.Y., Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Agunbiade, F.O., Department of Chemical Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Redeemer's University, km 46/48 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria
The effects of environmental factors, roof materials and age of roof on some metals usually found in Domestic Roof-Harvested Rainwater (DRHRW) from southern Nigeria were investigated. Samples were collected in Ibadan (residential), Lagos (industrial) and Port-Harcourt (gas-flaring). Four roof types (corrugated-iron-sheet, long-span-aluminium, asbestos and step-tiles) and three ages of roof (<5, 5-10 and >10 years in service conditions) were considered. Sample preparations, handling and analysis were carried out using standard procedures. Enrichment-Factor, Transfer-Factor and Pollution-Load-Index were estimated to identify roof polluting severity, rate of transfer of each metal detected into the DRHRW as well as atmospheric contribution to the overall pollution effects observed. Metal enrichment was generally low indicating low metal transfer into DRHRW from the sites. Occasional moderate enrichment was recorded for Fe, Cu, Zn, Ca and Mg suggesting their natural presence in the environment. Extremely high enrichment observed for Pb and Cd in industrial and gas-flaring rainwater samples as compared with residential indicated that metal contaminations in these locations are higher compared to residential samples which serve as background. Rate of metal transfer from roof material to rainwater was generally low. Thus, the possible source of the metal contaminants found in DRHRW in the areas investigated was the atmosphere. Mean Pollution-Load-Index of 0.95, 0.99 and 1.06 for rainwater samples in Ibadan, Lagos and Port-Harcourt areas respectively suggested higher pollution load in gas-flaring than residential and industrial regions. Pollution-Load-Index applied to age and roof-type indicated that long-span-aluminium and asbestos roofs that are less than 5 years could contaminate rainwater. CONCLUSIONSGenerally, low level of metal transfer from roof materials to DRHRW samples was observed in the study area. However, long span aluminum and asbestos roofs that are less than 5 years are capable of contaminating DRHRW. The prevailing activities in the different locations studied played major roles in the contamination of DRHRW. Rainwater harvested in industrial and gas flaring regions are not suitable for potable uses due to increased concentration of Pb and Cd. They can however be channelled to other non-potable domestic uses. Similarly, they may not support uses for irrigation purposes and should not be applied for irrigation to avoid situations whereby heavy metals are absorbed by plant materials and transferred back to man via food chain. © IWA Publishing 2013.