EFFECTS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD ON BACTERIA AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF WASTEWATER SAMPLES FROM SELECTED INDUSTRIES IN AKURE METROPOLIS

Abstract

Wastewater samples were collected from two industries in Akure Metropolis. The waste water samples were subjected to microbiological and physicochemical analyses before and after exposure to Electromagnetic field (EMF) at 1150nT, 1310nT, 3000nT, 5000nT. The presence of some bacteria in the wastewater collected from different companies showed their occurrence at different hours during the treatment of the wastewater samples with different EMF strength. Bacteria isolated from wastewater samples were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Klebsiella oxytoca,Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus vulgaris, Lactococcus lactis, Listeria spp,Bacillus subtilis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Salmonella typhi,, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterococcus faecalis,Micrococcus luteus andErwinia caratova. From the two industries, before EMF treatment industry A had the highest mean values for pH value (7.74), Temperature (27.00˚C), Total Solid (277.00mg/l), Total Disolved Solids (256.00mg/l), Industry B had Total hardness (994mg/l), Chemical Oxygen Demand (13.20mg/l), Potassium (13.23g/l), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (9.60mg/l) Zinc (1.24ppm) and Copper (0.07ppm). From the two industries, after EMF treatment industry A had the highest mean values pH (6.47), Turbidity (0.29 NTU), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (4.60mg/l), Chemical Oxygen Demand (5.40). Total Dissolve Solid (58.40mg/l) Industry B had highest values for Chloride (10.47mg/l), Total hardness (600mg/l), Sulphate (8.5mg/l). After exposure to EMF, the values of the physicochemical factors reduced significantly. Therefore from the study, it was observed that EMF treatment has a significant effect on the bacterial load and physicochemical condition of the wastewater samples.