Usman Ali Bukar1, Abdullahi Hassan Kawo2, Sani Yahaya2, and Abdullahi Balarabe Inuwa2
1Department of Microbiology, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
2Department of Microbiology, Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria
*Corresponding author’s Email: uthmaniyyer@gmail.com, doi.org/10.55639/607.02010062
ABSTRACT
This study assessed bacterial load and physicochemical parameters of tannery effluents in Chalawa industrial area, Kano State, Nigeria, and compared findings with WHO/NESREA standards. Effluent samples were analyzed for bacterial counts, pH, temperature, BOD, DO, TDS, TSS, and heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni) using standard procedures. Bacterial counts ranged from 3.7×10⁴ to 5.1×10⁴ CFU/ml, while a control fish pond effluent recorded 4.1×10⁶ CFU/ml. Physicochemical analyses revealed alkaline pH values up to 12.10, Cr concentrations of 20.45–29.37 mg/L, Cd up to 0.009 mg/L, Pb up to 0.136
mg/L, and Ni up to 0.484 mg/L, all exceeding WHO/NESREA limits. These findings indicate significant environmental and health risks associated with untreated tannery effluents, highlighting the need for advanced treatment technologies and stricter policy enforcement.
Keywords:
Bacterial load,
Tannery effluent
Physicochemical
parameters,
Heavy metals.