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European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 12, No. 2

Publication Date: April 25, 2024

DOI:10.14738/aivp.122.16509

Oguntade, B. K., Hunge, C. P., Onwordi, C. T., & Adegboyo, O. O. (2024). Chemical Composition and Health Risk Assessment of

Rainwater Around a Cement Factory in Ibeshe, Ogun State. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 12(2). 172-185.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Chemical Composition and Health Risk Assessment of Rainwater

Around a Cement Factory in Ibeshe, Ogun State

Bukunola Kehinde Oguntade

Department of Science Laboratory Technology,

The Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State

Comfort Pelumi Hunge

ORCID: 0009-0005-9885-274X

Department of Science Laboratory Technology,

The Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State

Chionyendua Theresa Onwordi

ORCID: 0000-0002-5330-6498

Department of Chemistry, Lagos

State University, Ojo, Lagos State

Opeyemi Olayinka Adegboyo

ORCID: 0000-0001-6086-5960

Department of Science Laboratory Technology,

The Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State

ABSTRACT

Rainwater harvesting has become a common source of water for many households

in developing countries. An analysis of the anions and cations of rooftop harvested

rainwater near a cement production factory in Yewa South, Ogun State, Nigeria was

evaluated. The bulk samples were collected from April-September 2022 at weekly

intervals. Parameters determined in the samples were pH, temperature, chloride,

flouride, NOx, and cations such as sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium,

Aluminium, lead, and silicon. Results of the analysis showed that the rainwater was

basic at all the sample locations, while all other variables (except Al3+, Pb2+, Si4+, and

Cl-) were within the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standard. It

also revealed that the presence of the cement factory does not have a huge impact

on the characteristics of the rainwater in the study area, However, periodical

monitoring of rainwater composition is important as the result obtained for this

study may likely change with time.

Keywords: anions, cations, cement, health rainfall pollutants.

INTRODUCTION

The world population is experiencing a daily increase, and the shortage of basic resources is

also worsening. Water is one of these basic resources and its availability in many developing

countries is at a critical point [1]. In developing countries such as Nigeria, many diseases that

affect humans are caused by the unavailability of clean and safe water [2]. The availability of

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Oguntade, B. K., Hunge, C. P., Onwordi, C. T., & Adegboyo, O. O. (2024). Chemical Composition and Health Risk Assessment of Rainwater Around a

Cement Factory in Ibeshe, Ogun State. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 12(2). 172-185.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.122.16509

clean and safe water to the populace will be a breakthrough in the eradication of poverty,

especially in developing countries where a lot of the annual budgets are usually set aside to

ensure the treatment of a lot of preventable diseases caused by the use and ingestion of unclean

water [3]. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 6(SDG-6) supports the

importance of access to clean drinking water for all and its significance to the prevention of

diseases [4]. One major source of water available to mankind is rainwater. It is a common and

cheap water source in rural areas in many developing countries where potable water

availability is a huge challenge [5,6]. Rainwater is considered safe for both potable and non- potable uses without undergoing any purification processes and is believed to pose no adverse

health effects to humans. However, research has shown that rainwater contains many

impurities and pollutants that accumulate during the rain process as it falls through the air in

the atmosphere [7,8]. Therefore, rainwater has been used to indicate the level of impurities and

pollutants in the atmosphere. The understanding of the chemical composition of rainwater

greatly contributes to the understanding of atmospheric conditions. Large quantities of natural

and anthropogenic materials are deposited into the atmosphere daily and a large percentage of

these materials return to the ground in the form of rainfall [9]. The characteristics of rainwater

are dependent on the types of activities emitting or producing these pollutants. These activities

could either be natural occurrences or interventions by humans through urbanization and

industrialization [10].

In many parts of the world, the acidic content of rainwater has experienced a tremendous

increase over the past several years and this is because of the rising rate of industrialization

and the burning of fossil fuels, which oxidize and hydrolyze to nitric acid and sulphuric acid

resulting to aid rain [11]. Rain acidity depends on the individual contribution of the acidic and

basic ions in the atmosphere and their neutralization. Hence, the determination of the

properties ofthe anions and cations present in rainwater is a very important focus of various

extensive studies in recent times for environmental concerns [12]. The adverse effects of acid

rain on the environment include corrosion of structures, acidification of rivers and lakes,

changes in organism metabolism, and nutrient leaching rates from the soil and plants. The

physicochemical characteristics of rainwater also often reflect the effects of activities of land

use around an area on the environment. Although many rural communities rely on rainwater

as a source of water for both potable and non-potable uses, the study of the effects of

industrialization on the composition of rainfall is few in Nigeria [13]. Rainwater harvesting is

the method used to collect rainwater for use. A survey of literature has revealed numerous

types of rainwater harvesting including in situ rainwater harvesting, infield rainwater

harvesting, land-based storm rainwater harvesting, and roof-based rainwater harvesting. The

commonest among these is the roof-based rainwater harvesting since it only requires the use

of a roof and a storage device [14-17]. Although this method is very easy to use and relatively

cost-effective, factors like poor, dirty roofing materials, high cost of storage tanks, inadequate

space, and poor quality of rainwater are some of the disadvantages of the method [18,19].

Ogun State has experienced a rapid increase in the number of industries, coupled with the acute

shortage of water because of the poor supply from the Ogun State Water Corporation (OSWC).

Ibeshe in Ogun State, Nigeria is one of these many industrial communities where visibility is

reduced due to a large number of clouds of dust and smoke [6], which brings about the

importance of this study.