Speciation of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Ni) pollutants and the vulnerability of groundwater resource in Okrika of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The chemical mobility of heavy metal pollutants (Cu, Pb, and Ni) is fundamental to the understanding of their environmental accessibility, toxicity and geochemical behaviour to be able to account for the safety and vulnerability of the groundwater resource in the study area. In this work, EDXRF spectrometer was used to determine the total concentration of the metals in the samples and the concentrations left in the residual fractions after extraction. FAAS was used for the chemical analysis of the test sample extracted. The results show that the concentrations of the mobilized fractions are well within the permissive limit, and more of the concentrations of about 60% to 80% of the total concentrations of the pollutants are in the residual phase that keeps the pollutants in their inert state as such posed no threat to the environment and man, and particularly rendering the groundwater resource less vulnerable to the presence of these pollutants. There remobilization is very possible under favourable conditions as therefore, constant monitoring of human activities should be put in place with regular evaluation of pollution status of the environment for the good of all.

Soil organic matter: application for heavy metal source diagnostics in sediments of the Middleton River, bayelsa state, Nigeria

“…However, nickel concentration during the wet season was largely due to the residual fraction (78.0%) ( Figures 1&2). Findings from this study agreed with Tamunobereton-ari et al, 27 that reported nickel in the residual fraction within the range of 65-85%. Similarly, Iwegbue et al, 26 observed that nickel was prevalent in the residual and organic matter bound fractions which are relatively immobile.…”

“…Osakwe et al, 24 had reported lead to be mostly found in the residual fraction of Imo River. Tamunobereton-ari et al, 27 had earlier reported lead to be about 60-80% in the residual fraction of Okrika river sediment. However, Horsfall et al, 28 had reported lead to appear in the first fractionexchangeable (52.90%) for Okrika river sediment.…”

Potential of Sweet Potato (I. Batatas) for Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals and Organochlorine Residues from Abandoned Mine Agricultural Areas of Riyom LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria

“…The mixture was shaken in the extraction tube for 6 hours at room temperature using a mechanical shaker. The mixture was centrifuged at 3000rpm for 10minutes and the supernatant immediately was used for analysis or stored at 40°C prior to analysis with Micro Plasma Spectroscopy [13,14].…”

Effect of Oxidation-Reduction Fluctuations on Metal Mobility of Speciated Metals and Arsenic in Bottom Sediments of Middleton River, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

“…Oil spill incidence is caused by several factors including vandalism and rupture of pipeline (Aigberua et al, 2017). About 95% of the population of the Okrika people who live along the Okrika River and its estuaries solely depend on groundwater for their domestic uses since their surface water sources are severely polluted by the direct discharge of domestic and industrial effluents and wastes into them (Tamunobereton-ari et al, 2011). Therefore, the presence and concentration of heavy metals in water bodies may be influenced by human activities even as sediments serve as the final sink of heavy metals in the water body (Asimiea and Lawal, 2017).…”