DETERMINATION OF LEAD AND COPPER IN SOIL, WATER AND AMPHIBIANS FROM POLLUTED STATIONS IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

The increasing degree of heavy metals contamination requires proper and effective health management on the ecological well-being by probing water, soil and fauna species within the environment .This study was carried out to investigate the distribution of heavy metal concentrations, specifically Lead (Pb) and Copper (Cu) in soil, water and in selected amphibian species across selected sites in Benin City, Edo State. Amphibians species (Sclerophrys regularis, Sclerophrys maculata, Afixalus dorsalis, Ptychadena longirostris, Ptychadena oxyrhynchus, Hypercolius fusciventris, Ptychadena mascareniensis, Ptychadena pumilio, Hoplobatrachus occipitalis, Ptychadena bibroni) were collected from four sampling sites (Iguosa river, Oluku dumpsite, Life science vicinity and Ikpoba river) between June and July 2023 . Heavy metal concentrations were analyzed using the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (A.A.S) The concentration of Pb in Iguosa and Ikpoba rivers were below the permissible limit of World Health Organization (WHO). At Iguosa river, Pb was 0.011mg/kg and Cu 1.445mg/kg, while at Ikpoba river Pb 0.006mg/kg and Cu 0.284mg/kg, both below the WHO permissible limit. The concentrations of Pb and Cu in soils from the sites were all below the European Union. The accumulation pattern was Ikpoba River> Iguosa River > Oluku Dumpsite > Life Science Vicinity (University of Benin) for Pb and Cu in amphibian toe snip samples. Hence, these heavy metal concentrations have no immediate threat on the health of water, soil quality and public health.