GLORY OSARIEMEN

Industrial effluents are significant contributors to environmental pollution, especially in developing countries where waste treatment is inadequate. Ceramic industries generate wastewater that often contains toxic heavy metals capable of accumulating in the environment and posing serious health risks. This study assessed the concentration of heavy metals in effluents discharged from a ceramic industrylocated in Utesi, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria, and evaluated the associated potential health risks. Nine effluent samples were collected from three points around the discharge pond over three months. The samples were analyzed for copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn),and cadmium (Cd) using the Atomic absorption spectrophotometer following standard procedures. Results showed that Mn had the highest concentration (1.07 3.00 mg/L) in July, while chromium was most abundant in June (0.97–1.00 mg/L). Lead and copper ranged between 0.10–0.47 mg/L and 0.10–0.57 mg/L, respectively, while cadmium reached 0.63 mg/L in August. Compared with the WHO and NESREA standards, Cr, Pb, Mn, and Cd exceeded permissible limits. The mean concentration trend was Mn (1.10 mg/L) > Cr (0.58 mg/L) > Pb (0.27 mg/L) > Cu (0.24 mg/L) > Cd (0.22 mg/L) > Ni (0.06 mg/L). Health risk assessment revealed that cadmium posed the highest non-carcinogenic (HQ = 0.43 for children) and carcinogenic risks (CR = 2.62 × 10⁻⁴ for children).