Effect of Pharmaceutical Effluent on the Growth of Crops in Nigeria

Abstract

Environmental pollution constitutes a great health hazard to human, animals and plants with local, regional and global implications. Pollution has adverse effects on land, water and its biotic and abiotic components. Effluents from industries are normally considered as the main industrial pollutants containing organic and inorganic compounds. This experiment was conducted under laboratory condition to investigate the effect of different heavy metals in pharmaceutical effluent on germination and growth of okro (Abelmoschus esculentus) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) seed. The effect of these effluents was compared with control water. The soil on which the plants were grown was analysed. A control sample watered with de-ionised water was also analysed. The plant