Evaluating the human health risks of heavy metal contamination in copper and steel factory effluents in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

Heavy metal (HM) contamination above permissible limits poses a risk to human health. The study evaluated the health risk (cancer and non-cancer) of exposure to copper (Cu) and steel factory wastes on water samples near the factory based on the hazard quotient (HQ) derived from the HM concentrations. Triplicate water samples were collected by purposive sampling and their concentrations of selected HMs [Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, Mg, Fe, Cd] were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The health risks were determined from the concentrations of HMs in water samples ingested orally. The range concentrations were [Fe, 0.074–0.178], [Pb, 0.011–0.013], [Cd, 0.005–0.02], and [Mn, 0.023–0.045] which were above the reference values set by World Health Organization. The contribution of the individual metal to the chronic daily intake (CDI) in the three samples are Mg>Fe>Mn>Zn>Cd>Pb>Cu. In the three different samples, the CDI for Mg was highest in the factory borehole [0.15523]. Comparing the CDI values from the three different collection points, Cu, Pb, Zn and Fe were highest from the factory effluent. Mg contributed the highest HQ [5.46307] in all the water samples, followed by Pb [3.87618] and then Cd[2.64009], which reflect their significantly high hazard indices observed. The incremental life cancer risk [ILCR] via ingestion showed that the cancer risk resulting from Cd in the different sources demands attention. The factory effluent recorded the highest mean levels of the metals analyzed, which were higher than the permissible limits. Magnesium contributed the highest non-cancer risk, while Cd had the highest cancer risk. [Display omitted] •The copper and steel factory waste was a major source of heavy metals to the water body in the studied area.•The concentration of Fe, Pb, Cd and Mn were above permissible limits for water.•Magnesium has the highest chronic daily intake and contributed the highest non-cancer risk•Cadmium contributed the highest cancer risks.