ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Toxicological Evaluation of Drinking Water
Sources in Some Rural Communities in Southern
Nigeria after Mycofiltration Treatment
Daniel Olorunfemi1, Uruemu Efechuku2, Janice Esuana3
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1Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Faculty of Life Sciences,
University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
2Environmental Science Unit, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
3Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
Submission date: 2014-10-14
Final revision date: 2014-11-30
Acceptance date: 2014-12-11
Publication date: 2015-05-20
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2015;24(3):1205-1212
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ABSTRACT
Available domestic water in many communities in Nigeria is increasingly polluted on a daily basis.
A major issue of national interest is how these polluted drinking water sources could be fully assessed and mitigated.
In this study, mycofiltrated domestic water samples obtained from hand-dug wells and boreholes in six
rural communities in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria were evaluated for potential
cyto-genotoxicity using the Allium cepa bioassay. Data obtained from physicochemical analysis after a 24-
hour mycofiltration treatment of the water samples revealed significant (p < 0.05) reduction/total elimination
of heavy metals and microbial load in the samples. Results obtained from the 96-hour macroscopic evaluation
of A. cepa showed that compared to onions grown in untreated samples, significant (p < 0.05) reduction in
root growth inhibition occurred in bulbs cultivated in mycofiltrated samples. Root tips of A. cepa processed
for cytological studies by the aceto-orcein squash technique after exposure to the water samples for 48 hours
also showed significant (p < 0.05) reduction in chromosomal aberrations in onion bulbs grown in mycofiltrated
samples. These findings show that mycofiltration technique is an efficient and affordable technology for
toxicity reduction in drinking water sources available for rural dwellers in developing countries.