Evaluation of trace metals contamination of some poultry farms groundwater in Osun state, southwestern Nigeria utilizing various indices

Osun State is one of the highly prolific agricultural and poultry-keeping areas where extensive poultry production is carried out utilizing groundwater as the main source of water for poultry support and drinking water in the poultry community. The groundwater from four locations covering three poultry farms and a control site in Osun State were sampled and evaluated on seasonal basis for their metal contents and physico-chemical variables in a sequence to find out an all-encompassing categorization of metal contaminations.  Metal contents in the acid digested samples were performed utilizing flame atomic absorption spectrophotometric technique. Quality monitoring procedures involved blank determination, spike recovery study and calibration of standards. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data interpretations.  The contents of metals (µg/mL) were in this manner: 0.010-0.420 As; 0.300-0.360 Cd; 0.220-2.980 Cu; 18.090-106.120 Fe; 0.05-1.430 Pb and 8.440-60.280 Zn in both seasons. The degrees of groundwater contamination were determined utilizing contamination indices. The results affirmed that contamination indices values of Fe were highest among the evaluated metals. A compliance evaluation for agricultural applications was done based on the prescribed values of Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment and Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization. This finding revealed that the contents of metals in the water more than the toxic effect threshold and could result in deleterious health effects in both the birds and humans utilizing the waters for drinking purposes.