EVALUATION OF SOME METALS IN SEDIMENT, WATER AND SNAIL

ABSTRACT

This study was done to ascertain the presence of Fe, Cu, Mn and Ni in Sediment, Snail and Water at Useh reservoir. Samples were collected in duplicates and analysed using the Atomic Adsorption Spectroscopy. The analysis showed the presence of Fe, Cu in all media during the period of study while Mn was present in all the media except in November in water. Ni was below detection level in water except in November, January, February, and March in snail and water in December and present in all media in April.

The concentration of Fe, Cu, and Mn in sediment were higher than that in water and snail in an order of sediment > snail > water and values of 34.89±35.27^a, 1.34±0.81^b, 0.52±0.31^b;  0.23±0.16^a, 0.16±0.09^a, 0.05±0.03^b, and  0.75±0.33^a, 0.02±0.02^b, 0.03±0.01^b, Fe, Cu, and Mn respectively. Ni was higher in water than in sediment and snail in a water> sediment > snail range and values of 0.04±0.01^a, 0.02±0.01^b, 0.08±0.00^c. During the study, Fe, Mn and Ni levels were above permissible limit of World Health Organization. Hence the inflow of anthropogenic and other waste greatly increases the carcinogenic and mutagenic threat on the reservoir.