Impact of abattoir wastes based on some physicochemical parameters on Woji Creek, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the environmental and health impacts of abattoir wastes due to unhygienic disposal methods and inadequate slaughtering facilities as it affects some physicochemical and bacteriological parameters of Woji Creek and its environs.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved the choice of five sampling stations for two different seasons: wet and dry. Standard methods were adopted for field and laboratory studies.

Findings

Water samples from station 2 (discharge point station) showed higher concentrations of turbidity, phosphate, biochemical oxygen demand, faecal coliform count for both dry and wet seasons, while dissolved oxygen values were lower at this station than in the other study stations. Water samples were slightly acidic (6.49‐6.70) for the five stations sampled during the study period. At the upstream station, the water had lower levels of turbidity, temperature, phosphate, nitrate, biochemical oxygen demand, faecal coliform count, but the values increased downstream after the discharge point station showing the impact of the abattoir effluents. The results further revealed seasonal influence on the parameters with higher values recorded during the dry season for conductivity, salinity, turbidity, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, faecal coliform counts, temperature, total dissolved solids. This is because during the wet season the increased volume of water apparently diluted the concentration of abattoir wastes.

Practical implications

The work was carried out in order to establish the existing levels of the measured parameters and assess the pollution profile of the Creek as a result of abattoir operations.

Originality/value

This is the first time a holistic research has been conducted on Woji Creek. The paper has provided data and knowledge on which further research can be carried out to monitor changes in water quality caused by the activities of the abattoir operators.

Citation

Johnbosco Emeka, U., Braide, S.A. and Chindah, A.C. (2009), "Impact of abattoir wastes based on some physicochemical parameters on Woji Creek, Port Harcourt, Nigeria", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 20 No. 5, pp. 581-591. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777830910981249