Bed Sediment samples were collected in the Dry Season from Orashi River at three sampling sites each located in Mmahu, Opuoma, Abacheke and Ogwu Aniocha communities. Physicochemical parameters, hydrocarbon and heavy metal (As, Cd, Fe and Pb) concentrations were determined with standard methods. Results showed that total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) ranged from 0.11 ±0.03 to 1.91 ±0.25 mg/kg while total hydrocarbon content (THC) and oil and grease had ranges of 0.28 ±0.06-2.98 ±0.19 and 0.69 ±0.09-3.60 ±0.57 mg/kg respectively. The sediment samples were classified as unpolluted in terms of TPH. Mean values for pH had a range of 4.33 ±0.22 - 6.60 ±0.52 while the texture of most samples was sandy. Mean organic carbon contents ranged from 0.58±0.07 to 3.15±0.66 % and mean total nitrogen and total phosphorus had ranges of 0.30±0.00 -2.77±0.46 and 17.34±1.65 - 29.48±1.63 mg/kg respectively. Mean Mg concentrations were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the concentrations of other exchangeable bases and mean As concentration had a range of 1.175±0.086-1.291±0.335 mg/kg. Mean Cd concentrations ranged from 0.948±0.072 to 3.120±0.131 mg/kg while mean Fe and Pb concentrations had ranges of 57.324±10.530-159.707±41.192 and 1.300±0.295-7.462±0.861 mg/kg respectively. As and Pb values were lower than the sediment quality guidelines (SQG) but Cd values were higher than the guidelines in all sites. Contamination factors (CFs) for As and Pb indicated low contamination while CFs for Cd indicated moderate to considerable contamination. Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values for As and Pb at all sites and that of Cd at one site indicated unpolluted, Igeo values for Cd at all other sites ranged between 0.210 and 1.571 indicating unpolluted to moderately polluted status. Keywords: Sediment, Orashi, hydrocarbons, physicochemical, metals, contamination
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.