Heavy metal content in the effluence discharged from a tea processing factory at Kericho

Abstract

Machineries and lubricants used in industries are made of heavy metals and significant losses occur during the manufacture and processing of products. Saosa Tea Factory which is in Kericho County produces effluents which are discharged into artificial wetlands (lagoons) without any treatment, other than maintenance of pH between 6.0-6.8. Heavy metal contamination has been recognized as a major environmental concern due to their pervasiveness and persistence. These heavy metals are non-biodegradable; hence there is a need to develop a remediation technique, which should be efficient, economical and rapidly deployable in a wide range of physical settings. This study was undertaken to assess the concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Cu, Al, and Mn) and other physicochemical characteristics (Chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solutes, total dissolved solutes and pH).