Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 22: 1299 - 1305. Published October 7, 2009.
Evaluation of quality and toxicological aspects of river water treated with slaked lime
Kolawole, O.M.*^, Olayode, J.A.**, Durowade, K.A.***, Ajibike, K.K.* and Kolawole, C.F.***
*Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Ilorin , PMB 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria.
**Anatomy Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomosho, PMB 4400, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. ***Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, U.I.T.H Ilorin PMB 1459, Ilorin, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
Objectives:This study was carried out to investigate the quality and toxicological effect of slaked lime treated river water on the liver and kidney of white albino rats (Rattus novergicus) at contact times varying from 0 to 504h.
Methodology and results: Agba River was treated with lime at concentration of 0.5g dissolved in 100ml of river water sample. After treatment, the total bacteria count ranged between 8.6 x 103 to 0.5 x103cfu/ml, total coliform count ranged between 7.7 x 103 to 0.2 x103cfu/ml, pH ranges from 6.6 to 4.4, water temperature was between 23oC and 29oC, turbidity also ranges from 0.301(NTU) to 0.018(NTU), and total dissolve solid ranges from 0.1mg/l to 0.0mg/l. Six bacterial species were isolated viz; Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaricus, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Histopathology of the liver and kidney after force feeding the rat with lime treated water at varying contact times revealed no destruction to the tissues from 0 to 504 hours. The centrolobular (central vein) and portal tract that forms the liver plates with portal space of the liver and urinary space and glomerular capillary of the kidney appeared normal as compared to the control.
Conclusion and application of findings: The efficacy of slaked lime in treating river water has been demonstrated with its non- toxic effect on the kidney and liver of rats at a concentration of 0.5g per 100ml of river water sample. Slake lime can therefore be recommended as an alternative coagulants and antimicrobial agent in current approaches for water treatment.
Key words: Slaked lime, river water, histopathology, rat.
FULL PAPER [PDF AVAILABLE HERE]
