Lead in potable water sources in Abakaliki metropolis, South-East, Nigeria.

Lead concentration was analyzed in potable water samples (25 well water, 15 borehole water, 7 tap water and 3 stream/river water samples), collected randomly from 5 zones (Abakaliki urban, Azuiyiokwu, Kpirikpiri, Nkaliki and Onuebonyi/rice mill) in Abakaliki metropolis, South-East Nigeria, using Atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean ± SD lead levels of Tap, well, borehole and stream/river water were 0.13 ± 0.08, 1.04 ± 0.19, 0.78 ± 0.19 and 0.83 ± 0.22 mg/L, respectively. There was statistically significant difference (p = 0.016) in lead concentrations in well water, compared with tap water. The highest well water lead level was found in Azuiyiokwu whereas the highest level in borehole water was in Abakaliki urban.