Peter BASSEY

A groundwater quality assessment was conducted in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, to evaluate the levels of physicochemical parameters within the region. Fifteen (15) borehole water samples were randomly collected and analyzed to determine their physicochemical characteristics. Both statistical and cluster analyses were applied to interpret the data. The dendrogram, a key output of the cluster analysis, illustrated the Euclidean distance at which different elements and clusters merged. Four distinct clusters were identified, with Cluster 1comprising mainly heavy metalsshowing strong correlations and similarities among related parameters. The study examined parameters such as pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity, salinity, and total suspended solids (TSS). Anions including sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, and carbonate were also analyzed, while heavy metals and cations such as sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) were determined using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Results indicated that the pH of the groundwater samples ranged between 5.28 and 5.98, suggesting slight acidity. TDS values varied from 5.34 to 6.22 mg/L, while nitrate concentrations ranged from 1.54 to 2.12 mg/Lall within the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limit of 10 mg/L. Copper concentrations were found between 0.039 mg/L and 0.086 mg/L, with borehole BH9 recording the highest value and BH15 the lowest. Manganese levels ranged from 0.05 mg/L to 0.35 mg/L, exceeding the WHO guideline of 0.1 mg/L in only one sample (BH8). Overall, the findings suggest that while some boreholes meet WHO standards, othersespecially wellsexceed acceptable limits for certain parameters, rendering them unsuitable for human consumption. The deterioration of groundwater quality in the area is likely attributed to
anthropogenic activities such as improper waste disposal and sewage discharge.

To determine the extent of physicochemical concentrations in the research area, a groundwater quality evaluation was conducted in Edo State's Ikpoba Okha LGA. Fifteen (15) boreholes were randomly selected from the study region and their physicochemical characteristics were examined. This study also used statistical and cluster analysis techniques. The most significant
component of the cluster analysis is the Dendrogram, which showed the Euclidean distance level at which a combination of elements and clusters was present. Four clusters were found, and Cluster 1, which is primarily composed of heavy metals, showed correlation and similarities among the relevant parameters. Among the parameters that were looked at were the water
sample's pH, turbidity, TDS, electrical conductivity, salinity, and TSS. An atomic absorption spectrometer was used to identify heavy metals and cations, such as Na, K, Ca, and Mg, whereas
sulphate, phosphate, nitrate, and carbonates were detected as anions. The results of the study indicated that the water samples had a pH range of 5.28 to 5.98, indicating that they were acidic. The research region's pH ranged from 4.51 to 5.22, while TDS varied from 5.34 to 6.22 mg/l. There were 1.54 mg/l to 2.12 mg/l of nitrate in the research area. Every water sample was
collected and compared to the WHO threshold of 10 mg/l. The research area's copper concentration ranged from 0.039 mg/l to 0.086 mg/l. The sample with the highest recorded value
was BH9, and the sample with the lowest recorded value was BH15. The study region's manganese concentrations range from 0.05 mg/l to 0.35 mg/l, with the mean, lowest, and highest
values included in these data. The WHO criterion is 0.1 mg/l, and just one sample (BH8) was higher than that. Some of the wells' water samples and those from a few boreholes are
contaminated with too high amounts of certain parameters to be consumed by humans. Therefore, it has been established that human activities (refuse dumping, sewage disposal, etc.) have had an impact on the quality of the groundwater in that area.

This study was carried out to determine the toxicity level of heavy metals at Egor Local Government Area of Edo State (Uwelu Mechanic/Spare-parts Market) in Benin-City, by
evaluating the soil pollution accumulation and distribution resulting from the activities of automobile spear parts market and workshops in the study area. Nine (9) sample points including control were profiled at 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-15cm and 165-30cm. The control site which was east of the study area was situated about 1km away, and instruments used for sample collection are hand auger, Global Positioning System (GPS), ruler, sample bags, marker, and masking tapes. Laboratory analysis carried out revealed the physicochemical properties and heavy metals presence. Statistical analyses employed to investigate the heavy metal concentration, accumulation and distribution in the soil samples were performed using Pearson Correlation analysis and ANOVA analysis. Thereafter, Contamination factor, Geoaccumulation Index and Pollution Load Index. At profile depth 0-5 cm and 15-30 cm, there is no significant difference with control values. At profile depth 5-10 cm and 10-15 cm, there was significant difference between control and Chromium, Vanadium, Lead, Cadmium, Zinc and Electrical Conductivity. There was positive strong correlation between all the heavy metals except Nickel and Chromium which showed only significant correlation. Cadmium, Vanadium, Lead, Zinc and Chromium showed Contamination Factor value greater than 1.5 in all the profile samples which translates to Contamination from
anthropogenic sources. Cadmium and Lead recorded high geo-accumulation index values which implies moderate to heavy contamination. Pollution Load Index of the profiles revealed that the sub soil at 10-15 cm and 15-30 cm where the most contaminated with the highest PLI values. In conclusion, the soil within the study area is heavily polluted with heavy metals due to the spilling of spent oil and dumping of scrap metals.