A comparative study of the levels of heavy metals in dam water, borehole water and cattle serum around the Modimola dam of the Mafikeng, North West province, South Africa.

Ten composite samples each of dam water, borehole water and cattle blood from the Modimola dam and surrounding livestock farms on the outskirts of Mafikeng city were analysed for concentrations of Pb, Cd, As, and Cr using induced coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The mean recoveries in the dam water, borehole water and bovine blood samples revealed the following trends: Pb> As> Cd> Cr, Pb> As> Cr> Cd, Pb> As> Cr> Cd respectively. The highest Pb, As, Cd and Cr concentrations in dam water and borehole were in the same range with means: 55.13 vs 55.53 Pb, 3.71 vs 3.22 As, 0.67 vs 0.33 Cd and 0.41 vs 0.33 Cr ppb respectively were obtained. The closeness of the values could indicate a lateral contamination of the ground streams by the contaminated dam hence the values. The mean concentrations of blood samples collected from bovines drinking from the dam were 2.46 Pb, 1.34 As, 0.90 Cr and 0.55 Cd ppb. The dam and borehole water values lie within the recommended safe concentrations (ppb) as stipulated by the WHO/EPA and the EC regulation (2005). (Nyirenda M, Ramoabi T.E, Dzoma B.M, Motsei L.E. Heavy metal poisoning as a possible cause of massive fish mortality and mongoose in the gold mining area around Khutsong, North west province, South Africa. Life Sci J 2013;10(1):3096-3100) (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com . 383