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Preliminary evaluation of
wastewater effluents from two food companies in Nigeria
A. Osho*, O. O. Mabekoje and O. O. Bello
Department of Microbiology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, P.
M. B. 2002, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
adelekeosho@yahoo.com.
Tel: +234 8034714411.
Accepted 25 February, 2010 |
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Effluent samples from two top Nigerian food and beverage
industries, swords food industry and 7-Up Bottling Company,
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria were investigated for microbial
loads, physiochemical properties and presence of heavy
metals. While repeated sampling revealed two bacteria and a
fungus from the effluents of 7-Up bottling company, 15
bacteria and 5 fungi were isolated from Swords foods
Industry. The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical
oxygen demand (COD) were equally higher in the effluent of
sword food industry than that of 7-Up bottling company.
Heavy metals analyses revealed Lead (4.83 and 6.75 mgl-1)
Copper (3.80 and 3.93 mgl-1), Iron (3.10 and 3.45
mgl-1), Cadmium (7.20 and 8.10 mgl-1)
and magnesium (5.68 and 9.38 mgl-1) in sword food
industry while Lead (0.12 and 0.14 mgl-1), copper
(1.20 and 1.22 mgl-1), iron (1.60 and 1.63 mgl-1),
cadmium (0.10 and 0.09 mgl-1) and magnesium (1.10
and 1.20 mgl-1) were the concentrations in 7-Up
bottling company. The conclusion was that, there is a high
probability of polluting the environment by sword food
industry as a result of discharge of untreated wastewater
into the water body or soil that may lead to death of crops
or reduction in crops yield, contamination of drinking water
supplies and/or accumulation and dissemination of toxic
chemicals that may further endanger ecosystems and threaten
public health.
Key words:
Microbial loads, heavy metals, physicochemical properties. |
