Metal Pollution Indices of Surface Sediment and Water from the Upper Reaches of Sombriero River, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

Metal pollution indices of the surface sediments and water of the upper reaches of Sombriero river was investigated using Absorption Spectrophotometery. The data obtained for the metals-Cd, Pb, V, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn showed consistency in the metal pollution indices of the various stations of the study area. The stations with higher pollution indices were related to areas of intense activities. Several metal pair correlations were obtained in the surface sediments than in the surface water. Both media had Zn-Cd and Cu-Fe metal pair correlations. The pattern of the metals in the surface water at 95% significant level is Fe>Zn = Cu = Pb = N = Cd = V while that of the sediment is Fe>Zn = Cu = Ni = Pb = V = Cd. Each of the metals differed significantly between the media (P<0.05) sediment > water, indicating the former to be a better monitoring index of aquatic pollution by these metals. In comparison to other related work the degree of contamination of the upper reaches of the Sombriero River is low but a gradual enrichment of these pollutants could have a deleterious effect on the aquatic resources of the area and the consumers thereof.

Vulnerability assessments of coastal river deltas - categorization and review

“…Deltas are especially vulnerable, as these pollutants disposed along the river accumulate in the delta. Heavily polluted water in the delta limits its use for industrial and agricultural activities, pose a risk to the local population when consumed directly or indirectly (Barbier et al 2011;Howard and Olulu 2012;Joyce 1997;Wong et al 2002), while decreasing the vigor of ecosystems (e.g., leading to algal blooms, and decreasing biodiversity) in both the terrestrial and subaqueous delta (Jennerjahn and Mitchell 2013;Kuenzer et al 2013a).…”

Correlation and Partitioning of Some Heavy Metals in Aquatic Media Around a Make Shift Crude Oil Refining Area

“…100 ml each of the water samples were digested, while 0.5g sediment samples were digested by the nitric acid-perchloric acid method (Howard and Briggs, 2012). Samples were allowed to cool and thereafter filtered into a 100.0ml standard flask and were later made up to the mark with distilled water.…”

“…Heavy metals are regarded as major contaminants of the aquatic environment due to the persistency, toxicity and ability to accumulate in most substrates. Several workers have reported the concentration and partitioning of heavy metals in water columns (Obire et al 2005), sediments (Osuji and Onojake, 2004) and both water and sediments (Addo et al 2011, Howard andBriggs, 2012). The outcome of most of these reports is that the aquatic environment is regarded as dumping grounds in most less developed countries (Obire et al 2005, Samir et al 2006, Howard and Briggs, 2012.…”

“…Sediments of aquatic environment have significant roles in mobilisation of dissolved heavy metals, although they can also be a source of metal pollution by immobilisation through biogeochemical features of the aquatic ecosystem. Several studies have indicated that due to temporal and spatial variability in water column, it is always problematic to obtain representative samples to actually show the true concentration of contaminants in surface water (Osuji and Onojake, 2004, Ezekiel et al 2011, Howard and Briggs, 2012, Ephraim and Ajayi, 2014.…”

Investigation on impacts of artisanal refining of crude oil on river bed sediments

“…Most of these oils that sinks are hydrophobic, hence they find firm hold in bottom sediments which is home to most breeding fin and shell fishes, and provides the bulk of nutrients to the phytoplankton needed to sustain the food chain of aquatic ecosystems, and to a large extent, determine the physiochemical characteristics of the river or creek; as well as regulate the natural cycles of all its components/constituents (Abowei and Sikoki, 2005). The resultant effects of the above are a change in desirable portable water characteristics (Ibigoni et al, 2009); impaired growth of marine organisms which depend basically on the quantity and quality of the primary production of phytoplankton, fish, crustaceans and molluscs acquire objectionable odour or flavour, thereby causing a reduction in their marketability and acceptance as food (Ibigoni et al, 2009;Briggs, 2010;Howard et al, 2012). Death of the fauna and flora from oil spills is common place in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria where the most intensive oil exploration; exploitation and refining occur (Ibigoni et al, 2009;UNEP, 2011).…”