Geo-accumulation and Ecological Risks of Heavy Metals in Sediments of Andoni River, Rivers State, Niger Delta, Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue VIII, August 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

Geo-accumulation and Ecological Risks of Heavy Metals in Sediments of Andoni River, Rivers State, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Kpee, F.¹, Edori, O. S.^1*, Okotume, S. C.²

¹Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, PMB 5047 Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
²Department of Chemistry Education, Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria
^*Corresponding Author

Abstract: – The effect of human activities on natural environment has led to alterations in the natural state of the environment, which has led to contamination or pollution at different levels. Sediment samples collected from Andoni River, Rivers State, Nigeria, were analyzed for heavy metal content. The result revealed that the concentrations of the heavy metals were in the order Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Cd > Pb > As. Contamination factor analysis indicated that all the metals at the different stations fall within uncontamination to contamination category except Cu which was observed to fall within moderate contamination, Cd which was within moderate contamination at Mbiaka station and Zn where all sediment samples indicated pollution. Pollution load index analysis indicated a contamination free sediment. Geo-accumulation index analysis of sediment heavy metals showed that the sediment is uncontaminated with Fe, Mn, Pb and As, slightly contaminated with Cu and Cd (at some stations) and extremely contaminated with Zn. Ecological risks analysis showed asediment whose heavy metal content did not pose risk to the ecology, but if the condition continuous unabated, may be at risk of Zn and Cd. Therefore, controlled effort be applied to ascertain the anthropogenic input sources of Zn and Cd in the environment to avoid near future effects.

Keywords: Geo-accumulation, ecological risk, sediment, heavy metals, anthropogenic activities, contamination

I. INTRODUCTION

Waterpollution majorly arises from anthropogenic inputs above natural background concentration within a specified environment. The presence of environmental toxicants or pollutants in any ecological environment whether aquatic or terrestrial reduces not only the quality of such environment but also its use or applicability by natural dwellers (both plants and animals) within such locality (Krishna et al., 2009; Ibrahim et al., 2016). Global attention has greatly shifted to the contamination of aquatic environments by heavy metals.

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