Bacteriological and Physicochemical Impact of Effluents from Ebonyi Fertilizer and Chemical Plant on Azuiyiokwu Creek

Agah M. V.¹, Onochie C. C.¹, Nworie O.², Oji A. E.¹, Nnachi A. U.^3, , Chukwu O. S.², Udu-Ibiam O. E.¹, Ukaegbu C. O.⁴ and Ani C.⁵

¹Department of Applied Microbiology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria

²Department of Biology, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Nigeria

³Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

⁴Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria

⁵Department of Applied Biology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
Agah M. V., Onochie C. C., Nworie O., Oji A. E., Nnachi A. U., Chukwu O. S., Udu-Ibiam O. E., Ukaegbu C. O. and Ani C.. Bacteriological and Physicochemical Impact of Effluents from Ebonyi Fertilizer and Chemical Plant on Azuiyiokwu Creek. Journal of Applied & Environmental Microbiology. 2014; 2(4):135-142. doi: 10.12691/jaem-2-4-7

Abstract

The health and environmental hazards associated with water body contamination by industrial effluents cannot be over emphasized. This study investigated the bacteriological and physicochemical qualities of effluents from Ebonyi Fertilizer and Chemical Plant and the impact on Azuiyiokwu Creek, located in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria between May, 2010 and March, 2011. Standard microbiological techniques were used for the isolation and identification of microbial isolates. The physicochemical parameters detected from all the samples investigated include pH, Ca, Cu, Pb, Ni, As, Al, Hg, Co, Zn, Fe, Cr, Na, P, Mg, and Mn. The study shows that the concentrations of the metals were constantly higher in fertilizer effluents, than Azuiyiokwu Creek and the control. There was a significant difference (P≤0.05) in concentration of metals between fertilizer effluents, Azuiyiokwu and the Control Creeks. The results also show that metallic contaminations of Azuiyiokwu Creek could be as a result of the infiltration of effluents from Ebonyi Fertilizer and Chemical Plant into Azuiyiokwu Creek. The study revealed higher bacterial load in the Ebonyi Fertilizer and Chemical plant effluents than Azuiyiokwu and Control Creeks. There was a significant difference (P≤ 0.05) in the microbial counts between the Control and Azuiyiokwu Creek. Bacteria genera encountered in this study include: Staphylococcus, Proteus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Escherichia, Salmonella, Vibrio and Aeromonas. This shows that the effluents received by Azuiyiokwu creek have low bacteriological and physicochemical qualities and the range of microorganisms isolated in this study raise more serious concern about the public health implications. This reflects the possible pathetic condition of most water bodies in Nigeria. Therefore, adequate measures should be put in place to help ameliorate the deplorable state of our water bodies.

Keywords:
abakaliki azuiyiokwu bacteria effluents fertilizer physicochemical water nigeria

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Hiremath, S. C., Yadawe, M. S., Pujeri, U. S., Hiremath, D. M. and Pujar, A. S. “Physicochemical analysis of ground water in Municipal Area of Bijapur (Karnataka),” Current World Environment, 6. 265-269. 2011.
[2]	Obire, O., Ogan, A. and Okigbo, R. N. “Impact of fertilizer plant effluent on water quality. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 5 (1). 107-118. 2008.
[3]	Patil, P. N., Sawant, D. V. and Deshmukh, R. N. “Physicochemical parameters for testing of water – A review”, International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 3 (3). 1194-1207. 2012.
[4]	Engelking, P. and Okuofu, C. A. “Biodegradation of a refinery effluent treated with organic fertilizer by modified strains of Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa”. African Journal of Biotechnology, 9 (22). 3298-3302. 2008.
[5]	Bobmanuel, N. O. K, Gabriel, U. U. and Ekweozor, I. K. E. “Direct toxic assessment of treated fertilizer effluents to Oreochromis niloticus, Clarias gariepinus and catfish hybrid” African Journal of Biotechnology, 5 (8). 635-642. 2006.
[6]	Godson, R. E., Ana, E. and Myenepli, K.S.C. “Soil quality near a chemical fertilizer industry, Port Harcout. Division of Enviornmental Health, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. 7-37. 2004.
[7]	Lathrop, R. C., Stephen, R. C., John, C. P., Patricia, A. S. and Craig, A. S. “The effects of harmful algal blooms to aquatic organisms”, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 55 (5). 1169-1178. 2008.
[8]	UNEP. Managing a contaminated land, Industrial and Environmental Journal, 16 (3). IE/PAC, United Nations Environmental Programme, Paris, France. 1993.
[9]	Alo, M. N. Egbule, U. C. C. and Aneke, C. J. "Microbiological Analysis of Soil from Onu-Ebonyi Contaminated with Inorganic Fertilizer." American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology 1 (4). 70-74. 2013.
[10]	Hari, O. S., Nepal, M. S. and Singh, N. “Combined effect of waste of distillery and sugar mill on seed germination, seeding growth and biomass of okra”, Journal of Environmental Biology, 3(15). 171-175. 1994.
[11]	Adnan, A., Taufeeq, A., Malik, E., Irfanullah, M., Masror, K. and Muhammad, A. K. “Evaluation of industrial and city effluent quality using physicochemical and biological parameters”, Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 9 (5). 931-939. 2010.
[12]	Ezeronye, O. U. and Amogu, N., “Microbiological studies of effluents from the Nigerian Fertilizer Company and Paper recycling mill plant”, International Journal of Environmental Studies, 54. 213-221. 1998.
[13]	Idise, O.E., Ameh, J.B., Yakubu, S.E., and Okuofu, C.A., “Biodegradation of a refinery effluent treated with organic fertilizer by modified strains of Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa”, African Journal of Biotechnology, 22. 3298-3302. 2010.
[14]	Bancerz, R., Ginalska, G., Fiedurek, J. and Gromada, A. “Cultivation conditions and properties of extracellular crude lipase from psychrotrophic fungus Penicillum chrysogenium”, Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2 (1). 67-69. 2005.
[15]	Nduka, O., Environmental Microbiology of Aquatic and Waste Systems, 2nd edition, Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg, London New York, 2011, 157-168.
[16]	Emele, F. E., Pasculle, W., Glew, R. H. and Mbrey, N. “Incidence and Prevalence of Aeromonas hydrophila in meat sold in Enugu Main Market”, Nigerian Journal of Microbiology, 10. 77-80. 1995.
[17]	R. A. Onyeagba, Laboratory Guide for Microbiology, 1st edition, Crystal Publishers, Okigwe, Imo state, Nigeria, 2004, 95-117.
[18]	Amadi, E. S, Ayogu. T. E. and Iroha, I. R. Microbiology Laboratory Manual, 1st edition, Nwamazi Publishers, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, 2009, 18-19.
[19]	Ezeonu, I.M., Okafor, J.I. and Ogbonna, J.C., Laboratory exercises in Microbiolgy: A practical Manuel for students of tertiary institutions, 1st edition, Ephrata printing and publishing company. No 12 Orba Road, Nsukka, Nigeria, 2011, 67-69.
[20]	APHA. Standard methods for chemical examination of water and waste water, American Public Health Association, 20th edition, Washington D.C., 1998.
[21]	WHO, Health guidelines for the use of wastewater in Agriculture and Aquaculture, World Health Organization Technical Report Series, No. 778, Geneva, 1989.