By Henry Oladele
A Professor of Chemistry, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Kafeelah Yusuf, has called for stronger water governance and stricter environmental regulations to ensure sustainable development and protect public health.
Yusuf made the call on Tuesday while delivering the 123rd LASU Inaugural Lecture entitled, “Preserving Blue to Stay Green: Probing the Mysteries of Water Chemistry for Sustainability”.
The professor said that preserving water resources was fundamental to achieving environmental sustainability.
Yusuf said that health of aquatic ecosystems directly influenced biodiversity, human health and economic stability.
According to her, water serves as the central connector of all environmental components.
The professor said that efforts aimed at improving land and air quality would remain ineffective if water quality and quantity were neglected.
“Preserving our blue ecosystems is not merely a scientific obligation, it is a developmental imperative.
“To achieve a truly green future, we must prioritise and succeed in preserving blue,” she said.
Yusuf said that years of research had provided baseline data on trace metals, nutrients, organic pollutants and emerging contaminants in key aquatic systems in Lagos and Ogun states.
She noted that the studies documented the chemical status of rivers, lagoons, sediments, fish, and drinking-water sources.
According to her, findings from the research revealed that water chemistry is a dynamic record of both natural processes and human activities.
She said although many parameters remained within international standards, persistently elevated iron levels posed local ecological threats to aquatic biodiversity, while bioavailable manganese and zinc indicated early signs of ecological stress.
The don explained that sediments served not only as repositories of historical pollution but also as potential secondary sources of contamination under changing environmental conditions.
She said the studies uncovered a shift from mineral contamination to more complex organic pollution, with Ologe Lagoon showing unacceptable incremental lifetime cancer risks.
Yusuf noted that dermal contact accounted for more than 98 per cent of the identified risk pathway.
She disclosed that research conducted on the Ogun River revealed emergence of a plastisphere.
“This is where microplastic fibres and phthalate esters had become integrated into the aquatic food chain and accumulated in commonly consumed fish species such as Tilapia and Synodontis.
“Domestic laundering and fishing activities are the dominant sources of microplastic pollution, with concentrations increasing significantly during the dry season,” she said.
The professor also warned that contamination transcended geographical boundaries, citing the presence of naphthalene in household boreholes across the Lagos-Ogun axis at concentrations exceeding World Health Organisation guidelines.
She expressed concern over deficiencies in some Lagos water treatment plants, particularly in turbidity control, microbial safety and lead removal which, she said, posed severe risks to children’s neurological development.
Yusuf said the research also established a link between environmental chemistry and public health.
She said that traditional fish-smoking practices deposited between 18 and 24 times more carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) into food than modern methods.
According to her, lipid-rich fish species such as catfish serve as reservoirs of the toxic compounds.
The professor described the detection of microplastics as the beginning of a new era of water pollution, where plastics acted as carriers of metals and organic toxins, threatening both aquatic ecosystems and sustainable development.
She said the studies provided evidence-based guidance in line with the Sustainable Development Goals on water, health and environmental protection.
Yusuf recommended transition from periodic environmental monitoring to continuous data-driven surveillance systems supported by modern laboratories and real-time sensors.
She also advocated increased investment in advanced analytical infrastructure, adoption of artificial intelligence and machine-learning tools for predictive water quality management.
She also advocated the promotion of a circular water economy through wastewater reuse and energy recovery.
She equally recommended climate-responsive urban planning, regulation of microplastics and emerging contaminants, and enhanced public awareness and stakeholder engagement.
She stressed the need for a coordinated action among the academia, government, industry and communities to secure a resilient and sustainable water future for Lagos State and the entire Nigeria.
“Through evidence-based policy, technological innovation and institutional commitment, we can secure a resilient and sustainable water future for Lagos State and Nigeria at large,” she said. (NAN)
Edited by Ijeoma Popoola