Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Associated Health Risks in Drinking Water Sources from Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Abdulrahman Mohammed; Hassan Ismail Musa; Amos Ayuba Gadzama; Abubakar Sadiq Muhammad; Adamu Saidu Saleh; Sani Mohammed

doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251217030605

J Pub Health Comm Med. 2026; 5(3): 240-255

doi: 10.5455/JPHCM.20251217030605

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Associated Health Risks in Drinking Water Sources from Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Abdulrahman Mohammed, Hassan Ismail Musa, Amos Ayuba Gadzama, Abubakar Sadiq Muhammad, Adamu Saidu Saleh, Sani Mohammed.

Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to determine the concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Zn, and Hg) in drinking water sources in Maiduguri, Nigeria, and compare the results with World Health Organisation (WHO) and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) standards to assess public health risks.
Method: A total of 90 water samples from various borehole types and surface sources were analyzed using spectrophotometry. Non-carcinogenic health risks were evaluated using the Hazard Index (HI) based on the Chronic Daily Intake (CDI) for both adults and children.
Result: The analytical results showed that Lead (mean: 0.63 ± 0.12 mg/L; range: 0.00-0.60 mg/L) and Chromium (mean: 0.33 ± 0.16 mg/L; range: 0.14-0.58 mg/L) concentrations significantly exceeded the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) permissible limits of 0.01 mg/L and 0.05 mg/L, respectively. The Hazard Index (HI) exceeded 1.0 across all water source types (Surface Dam: 1.27; Shallow Borehole: 1.32; Deep Borehole: 1.52), with children at particularly elevated risk.
Conclusion: The study reveals that drinking water in the investigated areas is heavily contaminated with Pb and Cr relative to international and national standards. These findings necessitate immediate water quality management strategies to protect the local population, particularly children, from long-term heavy metal toxicity.

Key words: Heavy Metals; Health Risk; Drinking water; Maiduguri; Hazard Quotient

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How to Cite this Article

Pubmed Style

Mohammed A, Musa HI, Gadzama AA, Muhammad AS, Saleh AS, Mohammed S. Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Associated Health Risks in Drinking Water Sources from Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. J Pub Health Comm Med. 2026; 5(3): 240-255. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251217030605

Web Style

Mohammed A, Musa HI, Gadzama AA, Muhammad AS, Saleh AS, Mohammed S. Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Associated Health Risks in Drinking Water Sources from Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. https://www.wisdomgale.com/jphcm/?mno=303574 [Access: July 27, 2026]. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251217030605

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Mohammed A, Musa HI, Gadzama AA, Muhammad AS, Saleh AS, Mohammed S. Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Associated Health Risks in Drinking Water Sources from Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. J Pub Health Comm Med. 2026; 5(3): 240-255. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251217030605

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Mohammed A, Musa HI, Gadzama AA, Muhammad AS, Saleh AS, Mohammed S. Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Associated Health Risks in Drinking Water Sources from Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. J Pub Health Comm Med. (2026), [cited July 27, 2026]; 5(3): 240-255. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251217030605

Harvard Style

Mohammed, A., Musa, . H. I., Gadzama, . A. A., Muhammad, . A. S., Saleh, . A. S. & Mohammed, . S. (2026) Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Associated Health Risks in Drinking Water Sources from Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. J Pub Health Comm Med, 5 (3), 240-255. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251217030605

Turabian Style

Mohammed, Abdulrahman, Hassan Ismail Musa, Amos Ayuba Gadzama, Abubakar Sadiq Muhammad, Adamu Saidu Saleh, and Sani Mohammed. 2026. Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Associated Health Risks in Drinking Water Sources from Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine, 5 (3), 240-255. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251217030605

Chicago Style

Mohammed, Abdulrahman, Hassan Ismail Musa, Amos Ayuba Gadzama, Abubakar Sadiq Muhammad, Adamu Saidu Saleh, and Sani Mohammed. "Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Associated Health Risks in Drinking Water Sources from Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria." Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine 5 (2026), 240-255. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251217030605

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Mohammed, Abdulrahman, Hassan Ismail Musa, Amos Ayuba Gadzama, Abubakar Sadiq Muhammad, Adamu Saidu Saleh, and Sani Mohammed. "Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Associated Health Risks in Drinking Water Sources from Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria." Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine 5.3 (2026), 240-255. Print. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251217030605

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Mohammed, A., Musa, . H. I., Gadzama, . A. A., Muhammad, . A. S., Saleh, . A. S. & Mohammed, . S. (2026) Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Associated Health Risks in Drinking Water Sources from Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine, 5 (3), 240-255. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251217030605