Background Heavy metal accumulation in the ecosystem constitutes a potential toxic effect which is hazardous to human health. Increasing environmental pollution has necessitated the use of cattle egrets to evaluate the levels of heavy metal contamination, to establish their use in biomonitoring of heavy metals and to provide data for monitoring pollution in the environment. Results The present study assessed the utilization of Bubulcus ibis in monitoring pollution in five abattoirs, namely Agege, Bariga, Kara, Itire and Idi-Araba, all situated in Lagos State. The concentration of five (5) heavy metals, cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) was determined in the liver, muscle and feather of Bubulcus ibis using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The trend of metal accumulation was in the order: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd > Ni for all the sampled tissues. The mean tissue concentrations of the metals were significantly different (p < 0.05) among the sites. The highest levels of metal concentration were reported in the liver in all the locations. Mean concentration of Cd in Kara (0.003 ± 0.00058) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those found at Agege (0.0013 ± 0.00058) and Idi-Araba (0.001 ± 0.001). A significant difference (p < 0.05) was also observed between the mean concentrations of Cu in Bariga (0.01 ± 0.001) and Idi-Araba (0.003 ± 0.001). Conclusion All the studied heavy metals were present in the liver, muscle and feathers of the cattle egrets. The contamination levels were ascertained from the study which indicated that cattle egrets are useful in biomonitoring studies and the generated data will serve as baseline data which could be compared with data from other locations for monitoring heavy metal pollution.

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Background:The study conducted a comprehensive assessment of the quality of selected groundwater sources around the liquid waste treatment plant of Ahmadu University Teaching Hospital Shika, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from four (4) hand-dug wells following standard procedures, ten (10) physicochemical parameters and seven (7) heavy metals were analyzed.Results: All the physicochemical parameters studied were within the WHO specified limits except for DO which was less and turbidity which was higher. Heavy metals were found in the all the groundwater sources that were studied. However, the concentration of some heavy metals exceeded the specified limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The heavy metal presence in the groundwater sources may be connected to human activities such as waste disposal containing these metals around the groundwater sources and liquid waste from the hospital which can may have seeped into the wells.Conclusion: By implication, this study shows that the hand-dug wells were not safe for drinking. It is recommended that wells be sited away from dumpsites and waste treatment plants and effluents from waste treatment plants should also be properly treated before their subsequent discharge into the environment. This study has generated a baseline data that will be useful in monitoring heavy metal pollution.