Abstract:
Studies involving pollutants in the environment have been used as an indicator of their
accumulation resulting from human activities. A study of spatial and temporal variation of
pollutants involving forty four water and soil samples collected from four different fields
within the Yala swamp has been undertaken. The samples were collected in duplicates.
Soil samples were dried in the open, crushed, sieved through 2 mm sieve, weighed and
digested using the wet method in a block digester. Atomic Absorption Spectrometer was
used to analyze heavy metals (Zn, Co, Mn, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Cr). Total N and P were
analyzed using colorimetric technique. Respective average levels of Zn and Cu in water
0.505 ppm and 0.129 ppm which were much lower than the maximum values of 5.000
ppm and 1.000 ppm set by WHO/ FAO. Those for Co, Mn, and Cd were 0.219, 1.352 and
0.176 ppm, respectively and were higher than the respective WHO/FAO values. The
respective values of Pb and Cr in water were 1.668 and 1.984 ppm, much higher than the
maximum limits set by WHO/ FAO and KEBS of 0.010 and 0.050 ppm. The average
value of Zn in soil was 0.415 ppm while Co, Mn and Cd had corresponding levels of
0.262, 1.491 and 0.117 ppm which were higher than the maximum set limits of 0.100,
0.100 and 0.003 ppm by WHO / FAO and KEBS. The average value of Cu in soil was
0.237 ppm while those for Pb and Cr were much higher at 1.820 and 5.005 ppm,
respectively. The average level of N in water was 0.095 ppm while in soil was 0.118 ppm.
The level of P in water was 0.063 ppm while in soil was 0.092 ppm. The results showed a
general increasing trend in pollutant accumulation towards the lake hence posing a threat
to aquatic life. Therefore, proper and continuous monitoring of pollutants should be done
to avoid future dangers caused to the environment.
