Abstract

PHYSICO CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF SOME ABANDONED TIN MINE PONDS IN JOS AND ENVIRONS AND THEIR SUITABILITY FOR FISH FARMING IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

*Christopher Ebere Ngurukwem, Sunday John Salami, Lucy Ene Akpa

ABSTRACT

Mining activities have been linked to the release of heavy metals into aquatic environments, which can cause ecosystem poisoning, fish kills, disease outbreaks, and contamination of the food chain. Such contamination may also result in human diseases like cancer, organ damage, and enzyme suppression. The main aim was to determine the physicochemical parameters of the mine pond water and the suitability of the ponds for fish farming, standard methods of Association of Analytical Chemists and American Public Health Association were used. Portable laboratory sample testing instrument (e.g., pH meter, thermometer, turbidiometer, spectrophotometer, lovibond comperator 1000) were used for determination and analysis. Notably, the following parameters were determined in varying concentrations across the ponds. Water temperature ranges from 19.5 - 23.0 0C, colour ranges from 6.0 - 7.6 Hz, pH ranged from 6.8 - 7.5, EC ranges from 173 - 432s/cm,TDSranges from 169- 597mg/dm3, total alkalinity ranges from 24.00 - 85.0 mg/dm3, dissolved oxygen ranged from 6.4 - 13.2mg/dm3, BOD ranges from 1.1 - 4.5 mg/dm3, total hardness ranges 98.75 – 298.7 mg/dm3. The study showed that the physicochemical parameters of the ponds are favorable for the survival of Catfish. Control sources of contamination and refuse dumping at pond sites, implement erosion control to reduce ions metal-laden runoff into ponds.

Keywords: Mine pond, physico-chemical parameters, contamination.