Abstract
The treatment and disposal of hospital effluent is a major challenge in most developing nations, including Nigeria. This study was aimed at investigating the physiochemical properties of hospital wastewater from a University Teaching Hospital based in Southern Nigeria. Six sampling points were identified within and outside the premises of the university teaching hospital. The results showed that the values of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (43.77 – 235.64 mg/ml), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (572.46 -792.70 mg/ml), nitrate (1.00 – 1.77 μg/l), potassium (3.34 – 10.63 μg/l), zinc (0.02 – 0.08 μg/l), lead (0.2 – 0.5 μg/l) and sulphate (10.68 – 19.10 μg/l) were higher than the world health organization (WHO) acceptable limits. Statistical analysis revealed that there was a significant difference between some of the parameters studied during the wet and dry seasons. Two factors analysis of variance also showed that time and location played a significant role in the results of the physiochemical parameters studied. The results of our study however showed that indiscriminate discharge of hospital wastewaters could pose serious threat to the environment, soil and public health. Hence, proper treatment and disposal of such waste should be encouraged so as to reduce the rate of pollution.