A baseline study of some heavy metals in Lake Bosomtwe

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1999-07-09
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A study was conducted on lake Bosomtwe at Abonu to ascertain the level of pollution of the lake due to human and other activities. Water samples were examined for chemical and biochemical parameters including the heavy metals: Cd, Hg, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn. Fauna (fish) and sediment samples were also examined for the heavy metals. Standard methods were adopted in the determination of the general water quality parameters, and UV spectrophotometric method was employed in the case of NO2- -N, NO3--N, PO43--P and SO42- ; while Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer was used for the measurement of levels of the heavy metals. The heavy metal concentration in the lake water was in the range of <0.002 to 0.38mg/L, 0.009 to 35.99 mg/kg for the fauna (fish), while in the sediment the concentration ranged from 4 to 664.78 mg/kg. Apart from pH (8.81) and alkalinity (533.30mg of CaCO3/L), the water quality parameters were below WHO guidelines. The lake water is basically alkaline and hence not normally used for drinking purposes.
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A thesis submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the Degree of Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry, 1999
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