ABSTRACT
This study seeks to assess the impact of pH from an array of ions interactions in rainwater samples across different sampling surfaces (ambient, zinc roof, aluminium roof, asbestos roof and stone-coated roof) and locations (Ogale, Eleme, Rumuodomaya/Rumuodome, Obio-Akpor, Diobu, Port-Harcourt and Chokocho, Etche) in Rivers State, Nigeria. Rainwater were sampled from April, 2019 to October, 2019, prepared and analysed for pH, Cl¯, SO42–, NO3¯, NO2¯, PO43–, HCO3¯, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, NH4+ and Al3+.using standard procedure. Statistical and Factor analysis was estimated to give ionic impacts on rainwater quality. The results showed that pH across different sampling surfaces ranged from 6.26 – 7.02 with decreasing location as Rumuodomaya/Rumuodome > Diobu > Chokocho > Ogale which impacts on different cation and anion interactions. Factor analysis showed cumulative variance of 88.79% for ambient, 87.58% for zinc roof, 86.49% for aluminium roof, 89.57% for asbestos roof and 65.89% for stone-coated roof across all four locations which are due to industrial and biomass emission, agricultural, metabolic and mining activities on chemical composition. Therefore, rainwater is safe for drinking but special treatment is needed to make it safe for human consumption.
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