ABSTRACT

Although, many heavy metals are necessary in small amounts for the normal development of the biological cycles, most of them become toxic at high concentrations. The major sources of heavy metal pollution in urban areas of Nigeria are mostly anthropogenic activities , while contamination from natural sources predominates in the rural areas. The study examined both light metals and heavy metals status of boreholes in Umuahia North , Abia states of Nigeria. Seventeen functional boreholes in the area were sampled. Result showed that the concentrations of Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sodium {Na) , Iron (Fe), Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) were within WHO maximum permissible limit with mean values of l.483mg/l , 0.437mg/l , 0.064mg/l ,0.015mg/l , 0.005mg/I and 0.161mg/l respectively. The absolutely low levels of metal contents across the sampled boreholes showed they were not polluted and as such suitable for human consumption. The low content also revealed that boreholes in the area were located far away from dumpsites; soak away pits, automobile shops and other forms of heavy metal contaminants. In order to maintain quality status of boreholes in the area, routine monitoring and assessment of boreholes mostly the indiscriminate sinking of boreholes in the area by sanitary inspection officers has to be put in place.