No abstract

Samples of surface water were collected from Edagberi Creek from three different stations at intervals of two months for a one-year period. The samples were treated using standard methods and then analyzed for heavy metals concentrations using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The metals analyzed were manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr) and zinc (Zn). The result of the metal concentrations in both stations and months showed the order as Hg < Cd < Pb < Cr < Cu < Zn < Fe < Mn < Ni. The values observed for Fe, Mn and Ni were higher than the WHO and NAFDAC requirement for drinking water, while those of Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu and Zn were lower than the stipulated values for drinking water by the stated agencies. Contamination factor test carried out on the different heavy metals based on their concentrations and the WHO standard showed that the studied heavy metals were at different level of contamination and pollution classification in the creek. The creek was slightly contaminated-severely polluted with Mn, while that of Hg was within contamination range, Cd and Pb fall within non-contamination to moderate contamination, not contaminated with Cu and Zn, but the creek was moderately polluted with Ni, and non-contaminated to slightly contaminated with Fe and uncontaminated to moderately contaminated with Cr. Pollution index showed that the creek is not polluted with heavy metals. Contamination degree values showed that the creek is at different levels of heavy metals contamination, while modified contamination degree indicated that the creek experienced nil to very low degree of contamination by the metals examined. From the results obtained in the creek, it is advisable that the water should be subjected to treatment before consumption.

Soil samples were collected at a depth of 0-30cm within two steel markets and a control site in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria to assess the level of heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni and As) in the environment. Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer was used to analyze the samples for heavy metals. The concentrations of all the heavy metals in the steel rods markets exceeded that of the control. The results indicated that heavy metals concentrations in the sites were in the order; Mile III > Kala > RSU. The average levels of contamination of heavy metals recorded followed the order Fe > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > As > Cd in Mile III, Fe > Pb > Cu > Cr > Ni > As > Cd in Kala and Fe > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > As > Cd in RSU (control). Mean concentrations obtained for heavy metals within the months of investigation were; 1420.931±9.155, 7.753±0.184, 8.730±0.050, 2.843±0.124, 9.428±0.122, 7.433±0.047 and 3.732±0.047 mg/Kg for Fe, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni and As respectively at the mile III station, while the mean concentrations of heavy metals observed at the Kala station were; 1161.173±1.823, 9.425±0.054, 7.596±0.027, 1.425±0.020, 6.507±0.006, 5.455±0.033 and 1.901±0.010 mg/Kg for Fe, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni and As respectively. The mean values of heavy metals concentrations observed at the RSU station within the period were; 892.064±1.025,5.603±0.007, 5.841±0.051, 0.173±0.005, 3.389±0.009, 2.309±0.010 and 0.706±0.006 mg/Kg for Fe, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni and As respectively. Pollution assessment models used for assessing the anthropogenic input on the quality of the soil in the area using the control site as the basis of judgment were: contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), contamination degree (CD), modified contamination degree (mCD), potential ecological risk coefficient (Eir), potential ecological risk index (RI), Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and anthropogenicity. These indices revealed that the steel markets were contaminated and polluted and poses ecological risks by heavy metals, even though the values obtained were still below the WHO acceptable limits. The steel rods markets need to be adequately monitored and regulated to avoid further soil contamination by heavy metals to a degree that will be dangerous to human health.

The levels of physicochemical properties of Mini Whuo Stream in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria was evaluated. The physicochemical parameters were analyzed using standard conventional procedures. The average values recorded for the physicochemical parameters during the months of investigation were in the range; temperature; 30.00±0.42-30.26±0.83oC, with all-round mean of 30.14±0.47oC, pH; 6.22±0.33-6.42±0.25 (6.29±0.29), electrical conductivity; 146.01±74.04-147.26±75.13µS/cm (146.58±74.69 µS/cm), total alkalinity; 61.63±6.37-62.20±6.41mg/L (61.91±6.41 mg/L), sulphates; 109.67±51.34-110.67±51.88mg/L (110.22±51.81 mg/L), nitrates; 12.20±2.38-12.60±2.86mg/L (12.31±2.65 mg/L), turbidity; 49.32±1.49-50.18±2.02 NTU(49.83±1.55 NTU), TDS; 74.20±36.43-75.61±37.50 mg/L (75.00±36.81 mg/L), TSS; 27.14±2.12-28.37±0.78mg/L (27.64±1.89 mg/L), chlorides; 15.17±2.90-15.66±2.70mg/L (15.34±2.65 mg/L) and salinity; 24.36±4.83-24.82±4.97mg/L (24.66±4.78 mg/L). The evaluation of the physicochemical parameters showed that the Mini Whuo Stream has been contaminated due to human activities within the stream and therefore adequate measures should be taken to forestall the present situation of the stream in order to mitigate any possible increase in deterioration of the studied physicochemical parameters in the stream beyond acceptable limit.