Physical, Chemical and Biological Parameters of Water from Medical Waste Dumpsites in South-Western Niger Delta, Nigeria
Water pollution by effluent has become a question of considerable public and scientific concern in the light of evidence of their extreme toxicity to human health and to biological ecosystems. Hospital wastewater poses serious health hazard to healthworkers, the general public and the environment. This study was conducted to determine the physical, chemical and biological parameters of hospital wastewater in South-Western Niger Delta, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from the Federal Medical Center, Owo, Ondo State, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Irrua Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Benin City, Edo State and Central Hospital, Warri, Delta State and from general (non-medical) dumpsites in all the locations where the medical wastes were collected, and these served as controls. The water samples collected were analyzed using standard techniques. There was no significant difference in physical, chemical and biological qualities of water from medical and non-medical waste dumpsites (P > 0.05). The only organism isolated was Bacillus species while Aspergillus species was the only fungi found in this study with total counts within acceptable limits. Medical and non-medical wastes do not have significant impact on physical and chemical properties of surface water.
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