Heavy Metal Concentration and Pollution Status of Cross River in Afikpo Catchment Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Heavy metals are notable chemicals that threaten river ecosystems and freshwater supplies from surface waters. The levels of some heavy metals-Mn, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr and As-in Cross River were monitored over twelve months in 2018 to establish the pollution status and potability of the river. Water and sediment samples were collected from three stations of the river and analysed according to standard procedures.The result reveals that the heavy metals detected in the surface water and bottom sediment of the river showed temporal patterns of variation. The decreasing order of heavy metal concentration in the water was Fe > As > Pb > Zn > Mn > Cr > Cu, while that of the sediment was Fe > Mn > Zn > Pb > As > Cr > Cu. The bottom sediment was observed to contain higher concentrations of heavy metals than the surface water, signifying the accumulation of these chemicals in the bottom sediment. Fe, Pb, As and Cr in the surface water correlated signi cantly (p < 0.05) and positively with their respective type in the bottom sediment. Most of the heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Pb, As and Cr) were detected at higher levels above the SON, WHO, EU and USEPA permissible limits, hence, the water was polluted with these metals and that made the potability of the river objectionable.

Simultaneous detection of trace Pb(II) and Cd(II) cations in ore samples by anodic stripping analysis using pMO/erGO‐modified glassy carbon electrodes

“…Heavy metal ions (HMIs) such as lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, cobalt, chromium, and copper ions, among others are highly toxic, stable, and non-biodegradable, making them hazardous [4]. They can be found in various ecological compartments and are involved in different environmental and ecological processes [5][6][7]. The most toxic among them can lead to cancer, nervous and reproductive system disorders, bone marrow and kidney dysfunctions, etc [8].…”