Evaluation of Status of Heavy Metals Pollution of Sediments in Qua-Iboe River Estuary and Associated Creeks, South-Eastern Nigeria


  •  Ikama Uwah    
  •  Solomon Dan    
  •  Rebecca Etiuma    
  •  Unyime Umoh    

Abstract

Sixteen bottom sediment samples collected from Qua-Iboe River estuary and associated creeks were analyzed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn, Ni, pH, Organic carbon (orgC),and grain size in order to assess the current pollution status in sediment of the study area. Concentration data were processed using Pearson correlation analysis. Sediment pollution assessment was carried out using Enrichment factor, Geo-accumulation index and Modified degree of contamination. The calculated enrichment factor showed that the sediment was enriched with Cd, Zn, Cu and Pb. The results of geo-accumulation index (Igoe) indicated that sediments are unpolluted with Fe, moderately polluted with Cr, Cu, Pb, strongly polluted with Cd and extremely polluted with Ni. This was attributed mainly to oil contaminating wastes and metal scraps. The results of the modified degree of contamination (mCd) revealed that the sediment of Qua Iboe estuary and associated creeks fall between 8 ? mCd ? 16 indicating very high degree of contamination.



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