Environmental Impact of Heavy Metals from Poultry Waste Discharged into the Olosuru Stream, Ikire, Southwestern Nigeria

Background. Water supplies can be contaminated by anthropogenic activities. The poultry industry uses a variety of heavy metals as additives in chicken feed, but excretion, runoff and dumping of heavy metals can threaten water bodies and have adverse effects on human health. Objectives. The aim of the present study was to determine the environmental impact of heavy metals from poultry waste discharged into the Olosuru stream, located in Ikire, southwest Nigeria. Methods. In order to study changes in heavy metal loads, samples were collected six times during the wet season (September, October 2014 and April 2015) and dry season (November 2014, January and February 2015). The inhabitants of Olosuru village use water for domestic and agriculture purposes from the Olosuru stream which is located only a few meters from a poultry farm discharge point. Three stations were sampled, upstream to downstream, with 500 meter distance between each point. Results. Selected heavy metals concentrations in the Olosuru stream were all above the World Health Organization (WHO) standard for drinking water. The highest mean concentrations of heavy metals were recorded at the downstream station, while arsenic, iron and lead showed significant spatial and seasonal differences. Seasonally, the highest iron concentrations were recorded in the dry season (0.104+0.401 mg/L), while the mean concentrations of other heavy metals recorded during the sampling period were higher during the wet season. Conclusions. Concentrations of heavy metals in the present study were above acceptable limits. Poultry waste discharged into the Olosuru stream, can have negative impacts on the stream and health implications for local residents.