Spatio-temporal Variations in Heavy Metal Concentrations in Sediment of Qua Iboe River Estuary, Nigeria
The concentrations of heavy metals in sediments of
Qua Iboe River Estuary (QIRE) were monitored at four different
sampling locations in wet and dry seasons. A preliminary survey to
determine the four sampling stations along the river continuum
showed that the area spanned between <0.1‰ salinity at the control
station and 21.5‰ at the fourth station along the river continuum. A
preliminary survey to determine the four sampling locations along the
river estuary showed variations in salinity and other physicochemical
parameters. The estuary was found to be polluted with heavy metals
from point and nonpoint sources at varying degrees. Mean values of
7.80 mg/kg, 4.97 mg/kg and 2.80 mg/kg of nickel were obtained for
sediment samples from Douglas creek, Qua Iboe and Atlantic
sampling locations, respectively in the dry season. The wet season
nickel concentrations were however lower. The entire study area was
grossly contaminated by iron. At Douglas creek, the concentration of
iron in sediment was 9274 ± 9.54mg/kg while copper, nickel, lead
and vanadium were <0.5mg/kg each as compared to iron.
Bioaccumulation was therefore suspected within the study area as
values of 31.00 ± 0.79, 36.00 ± 0.10 and 55.00 ± 0.05 mg/kg of zinc
were recorded in sediment at Douglas creek, Atlantic and the control
sampling locations. The results from this study showed that the
source of these heavy metals were from point sources like the
corrosion of metal steel pipes from old bridges as well as oily sludge
wastes from the Qua Iboe Terminal / tank farm located within the
vicinity of the study area.
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trends: An Overview. Ambio 23: 187 – 191, 1994.
[2] A. F. Ewing (1968): Industry in Africa. London: Oxford University
Press, 1968.
[3] I. R. Udotong. Environmental monitoring and effect of petroleum
production effluent on some biota of the lower Qua Iboe river estuary.
PhD thesis, University of Science and Technology Nkpolu-
Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Pp 295, 2000.
[4] Mobil News. The History of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited. Lagos,
Nigeria: Mobil House, 1989.
[5] J. C. Reis. Coping with the waste stream from Drilling for oil.
Proceedings.
[6] Ecoworld’92 Conference, June, 14-17 in Washington D. C., 1992.
[7] N. J. Nwankwo and D. O. Irrechukwu. Problems of Environmental
Pollution and control in Nigeria Petroleum Industry. In: The Petroleum
Industry and the Nigerian Environment. Warri: PTI, Nigeria, 1981,Pp.
102-107.
[8] E. D. Udosen. Levels of Toxic Metal in Achatina from parts of Akwa
Ibom State, Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Sciences 12: 68-74,
2000a.
[9] O. M. Udoidiong and P. M. Akpan (1). Toxicity of Cadmium, lead and
lindane to Egeria radiata Laamarck (Lame Uibranchia, Donacidae). Rev.
Hydrobiol. Trop. 24 (2): 111 – 117, 1991.
[10] A. W. Akpan. A limnological survey of Qua Iboe River in south eastern
Nigeria. Ph. D thesis, University of Jos, Nigeria, 447pp, 1991.
[11] K. Grasshoff. Sampling and Sampling Techniques. In: (K. Grasshoff, M.
Ehrhardt and K. Kremling (Eds.), Methods of Seawater analysis
Germany: Verlag Chemie GMbH, 1983, Pp 1-19.
[12] J. I. R. Udotong. Bioaccumulation and biotoxicity of heavy metals,
polychlorinated biphenyls andhydrocarbons in tilapia, periwinkle and
oysters from Qua Iboe River estuary. Ph. D thesis, University of calabar,
Calabar, Nigeria, P. 95, 2004.
[13] N. J. Valette – Silver. The use of sediment cores to reconstruct historical
trends in contamination of estuarine and coastal sediments, Estuarie 16:
577 – 588, 1993.
[14] J. J. G Zwolsman, G. W. Berger and G. T. M. Van Eck. Sediment
accumulation rates, historical input, post – depositional mobility and
retention of major elements and trace metals in salt marsh sediments of
the Scheldt Estuary SW Netherlands. Marine Chemistry 44: 73 – 94,
1993.
[15] R. W. Macdonald, D. M. Macdonald, M. C. O’Brien and C. Gobiel.
Accumulation of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd), Carbon and Nitrogen in
sediment from strait of Georgia B. C. Canada. Marine Chemistry 34:
109-133, 1991.
[16] V. C. Anderlini, O. S. Mohammed, M. A. Zarba, S. W. Fowler and P.
Miramand. Trace metals in marine sediments of kuwait. Bull. Envir,
Contam. Toxic. 28: 75-80, 1982.
[17] W. B. Dambo. Ecotoxicology of heavy metals and petroleum related
compounds on the mangrove oyster (Crassostrea gasar) from the Lower
Bonny Estuary. Ph.D thesis, University of Science and Technology,
Port- Harcourt, Nigeia, Pp. 24 –133, 2000.
[18] J. Tariq, M. Ashraf, M. Jaffar, and M. Af Zal. Pollution status of the
Indus River.
[1] B. G. Loganathan and K. Kannan. Global organochlorine contamination
trends: An Overview. Ambio 23: 187 – 191, 1994.
[2] A. F. Ewing (1968): Industry in Africa. London: Oxford University
Press, 1968.
[3] I. R. Udotong. Environmental monitoring and effect of petroleum
production effluent on some biota of the lower Qua Iboe river estuary.
PhD thesis, University of Science and Technology Nkpolu-
Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Pp 295, 2000.
[4] Mobil News. The History of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited. Lagos,
Nigeria: Mobil House, 1989.
[5] J. C. Reis. Coping with the waste stream from Drilling for oil.
Proceedings.
[6] Ecoworld’92 Conference, June, 14-17 in Washington D. C., 1992.
[7] N. J. Nwankwo and D. O. Irrechukwu. Problems of Environmental
Pollution and control in Nigeria Petroleum Industry. In: The Petroleum
Industry and the Nigerian Environment. Warri: PTI, Nigeria, 1981,Pp.
102-107.
[8] E. D. Udosen. Levels of Toxic Metal in Achatina from parts of Akwa
Ibom State, Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Sciences 12: 68-74,
2000a.
[9] O. M. Udoidiong and P. M. Akpan (1). Toxicity of Cadmium, lead and
lindane to Egeria radiata Laamarck (Lame Uibranchia, Donacidae). Rev.
Hydrobiol. Trop. 24 (2): 111 – 117, 1991.
[10] A. W. Akpan. A limnological survey of Qua Iboe River in south eastern
Nigeria. Ph. D thesis, University of Jos, Nigeria, 447pp, 1991.
[11] K. Grasshoff. Sampling and Sampling Techniques. In: (K. Grasshoff, M.
Ehrhardt and K. Kremling (Eds.), Methods of Seawater analysis
Germany: Verlag Chemie GMbH, 1983, Pp 1-19.
[12] J. I. R. Udotong. Bioaccumulation and biotoxicity of heavy metals,
polychlorinated biphenyls andhydrocarbons in tilapia, periwinkle and
oysters from Qua Iboe River estuary. Ph. D thesis, University of calabar,
Calabar, Nigeria, P. 95, 2004.
[13] N. J. Valette – Silver. The use of sediment cores to reconstruct historical
trends in contamination of estuarine and coastal sediments, Estuarie 16:
577 – 588, 1993.
[14] J. J. G Zwolsman, G. W. Berger and G. T. M. Van Eck. Sediment
accumulation rates, historical input, post – depositional mobility and
retention of major elements and trace metals in salt marsh sediments of
the Scheldt Estuary SW Netherlands. Marine Chemistry 44: 73 – 94,
1993.
[15] R. W. Macdonald, D. M. Macdonald, M. C. O’Brien and C. Gobiel.
Accumulation of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd), Carbon and Nitrogen in
sediment from strait of Georgia B. C. Canada. Marine Chemistry 34:
109-133, 1991.
[16] V. C. Anderlini, O. S. Mohammed, M. A. Zarba, S. W. Fowler and P.
Miramand. Trace metals in marine sediments of kuwait. Bull. Envir,
Contam. Toxic. 28: 75-80, 1982.
[17] W. B. Dambo. Ecotoxicology of heavy metals and petroleum related
compounds on the mangrove oyster (Crassostrea gasar) from the Lower
Bonny Estuary. Ph.D thesis, University of Science and Technology,
Port- Harcourt, Nigeia, Pp. 24 –133, 2000.
[18] J. Tariq, M. Ashraf, M. Jaffar, and M. Af Zal. Pollution status of the
Indus River.
@article{"International Journal of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences:70055", author = "Justina I. R. Udotong and Ime R. Udotong and Offiong U. Eka", title = "Spatio-temporal Variations in Heavy Metal Concentrations in Sediment of Qua Iboe River Estuary, Nigeria", abstract = "The concentrations of heavy metals in sediments of
Qua Iboe River Estuary (QIRE) were monitored at four different
sampling locations in wet and dry seasons. A preliminary survey to
determine the four sampling stations along the river continuum
showed that the area spanned between ", keywords = "Heavy metal, Qua Iboe River Estuary, seasonal
variations, sediment.", volume = "9", number = "6", pages = "673-5", }