Browsing by Author "Angiro, Christopher"

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    Health Risks from Intake and Contact with Toxic Metal-Contaminated Water from Pager River, Uganda
    (Journal of Xenobiot, 2023) Onen, Patrick; Akemkwene, Robin; Nakiguli, Caroline K.; Nimusiima, Daniel; Ruma, Daniel Hendry; Khanakwa, Alice V.; Angiro, Christopher; Bamanya, Gadson; Opio, Boniface; Gonzaga, Allan; Omara, Timothy
    Pollution of water resources is one of the major impediments to the realization of Sustainable Development Goals, especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the physicochemical quality and potentially toxic element (lead and cadmium) concentrations in surface water sampled from Pager River, a tributary of the Nile River in Northern Uganda. Water samples (n = 18) were taken from six different points upstream (A, B, and C) and downstream (D, E, and F) of the river and analyzed following standard methods for their physiochemical properties. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to quantify lead and cadmium concentrations. Human health risks from ingestion and dermal contact with potentially toxic metal-contaminated water were calculated. The results obtained indicated that the mean temperature (27.7 ± 0.5–29.5 ± 0.8 °C), turbidity (40.7 ± 2.1–50.1 ± 1.1 NTU), lead (0.296 ± 0.030–0.576 ± 0.163 mg/L) and cadmium (0.278 ± 0.040–0.524 ± 0.040 mg/L) occurred at levels that surpassed their permissible limits as per World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water. Human health risk assessment showed that there are potential non-cancer risks from the ingestion of water from Pager River by adults, as the total hazard quotients were greater than one. These results emphasize the urgency to restrict the dumping of wastes into the river to minimize chances of impacting the Nile River, which flows northwards to the Mediterranean Sea. Further studies should perform routine monitoring of the river during both dry and wet seasons to establish the spatiotemporal variations of physicochemical, microbial, and trace metal profiles of the river and the associated health risks.
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    Pollution of Mpanga River by Kabundaire Abattoir Effluents, Fort Portal Tourism City, Uganda
    (Asian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Research, 2021) Businge, Fred; Kagoya, Sarah; Omara, Timothy; Angiro, Christopher
    Abattoirs are one of the most pronounced but yet ignored sources of highly recalcitrant wastewater that has significant impacts on the environment. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of Kabundaire abattoir effluents on the quality of water in the receiving Mpanga river, Fort Portal tourism city of Uganda. The study also estimated the amount of water used and wastewater generated in the facility between December 2018 and December 2019, and the number of animals slaughtered per month in the abattoir. Study Design: This research employed a quantitative research design. Place and Duration of Study: Samples were collected from six different sites of Mpanga river at intervals of 2 km from Fort Portal town: upstream (Kahungabunyoni and Kagote A), midstream/ effluent discharge point (Kabundaire and Mpanga market) and downstream (Rwabuhinga and Kitumba) along Mpanga river stretch in the morning and evening hours. The analyses were done at National Water & Sewerage Corporation, Fort Portal, Uganda. The sampling and experimental work was done between May 2019 and August 2019. Methodology: The physicochemical properties (pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, total nitrates and total phosphates) and microbiological (Escherichia coli and total coliform) profile of the water samples were determined following standard methods. To quantify the amount of water used and wastewater generated, the number of cattle, goats and sheep slaughtered per day between December 2018 and April 2019 were retrieved from abattoir records and extrapolated. Results: Analytical results indicated that the evaluated water quality parameters were in the range of 6.93 ± 0.02 to 7.90 ± 0.16, 22.0 ± 0.14 ℃ to 23.6 ± 0.26 ℃, 0.01 ± 0.00 mg/L to 0.26 ± 0.02 mg/L, 6.30 ± 0.03 mg/L to 10.00 ± 0.03 mg/L, 4.20 ± 0.05 mg/L to 9.70 ± 0.02 mg/L, 4 × 102 CFU/mL to 48 × 103 CFU/mL, 1.4 × 104 CFU/mL to 6.6 × 106 CFU/mL for pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, total phosphates, total nitrates, Escherichia coli and total coliforms, respectively. Most of the parameters were above permissible limits except pH, temperature and total nitrates. An average of 133 cattle, 78 goats and 33 sheep are slaughtered in Kabundaire abattoir every month. The actual number varies by month, depending on the demand for meat. The amount of water used, and the wastewater generated were estimated at 15,768 m3/year and 18,396 m3/year, respectively. Conclusion: Discharge of effluents from Kabundaire abattoir into Mpanga river negatively affects its water quality. Mpanga river water is not safe for domestic use without further treatment/purification. We recommend that an anaerobic wastewater treatment facility should be installed at Kabundaire abattoir to enhance environmental conservation. Further studies should determine the actual amount of water used and wastewater generated at the facility.
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    Spring Water Quality in a Flood-Prone Area of Kampala City, Uganda: Insights Furnished by Sanitary and Limnochemical Data
    (Resources, 2024) Tenywa, Ronald; Omara, Timothy; Kwikiriza, Gerald; Angiro, Christopher; Ntambi, Emmanuel
    first_pagesettingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessArticle Spring Water Quality in a Flood-Prone Area of Kampala City, Uganda: Insights Furnished by Sanitary and Limnochemical Data by Ronald Tenywa 1,Timothy Omara 2,*ORCID,Gerald Kwikiriza 3ORCID,Christopher Angiro 4ORCID andEmmanuel Ntambi 1,* 1 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda 2 Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda 3 Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (KAZARDI), National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Kabale P.O. Box 421, Uganda 4 Centre for Water, Environment and Development-School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, UK * Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed. Resources 2024, 13(10), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13100133 Submission received: 7 August 2024 / Revised: 19 September 2024 / Accepted: 23 September 2024 / Published: 25 September 2024 Downloadkeyboard_arrow_down Browse Figures Versions Notes Abstract For millennia, springs have provided water for drinking, domestic use, balneological treatment, liminality rites as well as tourist attractions. Amidst these uses, anthropogenic activities, especially urbanization and agriculture, continue to impair the functionality of springs. With the looming decadal climate change, freshwater springs could be a sustainable source of clean water for the realisation of Sustainable Development Goal 6. This paper presents the results of the sanitary inspection and assessment of limnochemical characteristics and quality of water samples (n = 64) from four freshwater springs (coded SPR1, SPR2, SPR3, and SPR4) in Kansanga, a flash flood-prone area in the African Great Lakes region of Uganda. Each sample was analysed for 17 parameters (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, fluorides, sulphates, chlorides, nitrates, orthophosphates, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, potassium, sodium, total, magnesium and calcium hardness) following the standard methods. Water quality index (WQI) was calculated to establish the quality of the water samples based on the physicochemical parameters measured. Based on the sanitary risk assessment results, the springs had medium- to high-risk scores, but most water parameters were within the WHO guidelines for potable water, except for nitrates (in SPR1 and SPR2), hardness levels (in SPR2), and dissolved oxygen (in all the samples). Sampling season and location had significant effects on the limnochemistry of the freshwater springs (p < 0.05). The water quality indices calculated indicated that the water from the springs was of good quality (WQI = 50–57), but there was a reduction in water quality during the wet season. The best water quality was recorded in samples from SPR4, followed by those for SPR3, SPR1, and SPR2. These results provide insights into the contribution of floods and poor sanitation facilities to the deterioration of spring water quality in Kansanga, and the need to leverage additional conservation strategies to support vulnerable communities in the area. Further studies are required to establish the risk posed by trace metals and microbes that may contaminate freshwater in the studied springs, especially following flood events.