Assessment of Heavy Metals Concentrations in Sediments at Drainage Discharge Points into the New Calabar River, Rivers State, Nigeria
- October 19, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS Team
- Categories: Chemistry, IJRIAS
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume V, Issue X, October 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186
Edori, O. S.; Edori, E. S.; Ntembaba, S. A.
Department of Chemistry, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, P.M.B. 5047 Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Abstract: Sediment samples were collected from three points along the New Calabar River where effluents were discharged from drainage. The samples were collected in the months of July, August and September, 2019. The sediments were prepared for heavy metals analysis using standard laboratory techniques. The filtrate obtained after digestion of the samples were analyzed for heavy metals concentrations using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The result showed monthly and special variations of heavy metals concentrations. The mean monthly concentrations for the heavy metals showed that the metals were more abundant in the sediment in September, then August and was least in July. Stations variation in concentrations were in the order of Iwofe Jetty > Minipiti > Police Post. The mean concentrations of the metals showed that iron (Fe) > manganese (Mn) > chromium (Cr) > nickel (Ni) > copper (Cu) > lead (Pb) > Cadmium (Cd). The mean values for the metals were 177.1103±12.624, 47.946±1.125, 3.102±0.196, 0.216±0.025, 4.537±0.427, 4.156±0.329 and 2.298±0.221 mg/Kg for Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr and Cu respectively. All the metals examined were found to be lower than the world average value in shale and limit values in sediment set by DPR, USEPA and EU. The observed concentrations of the examined metals presently do not pose any threat to the environment except that of Cd whose values in some of the stations in the examined months were within the range of world average value in shale. From the foregoing or findings, it is recommended that proper monitoring of the type of effluents discharged into the drainage and subsequently transported to the river be put under surveillance to prevent upsurge of heavy metals increase in the river.
Keywords: Heavy metals, Sediment, New Calabar River, Pollution, Drainage points, human activities
