You have no items in your shopping cart.
ABSTRACT
Metal pollution in the fluvial sediments of the rivers has become a severe problem throughout the world. Lower valleys with agricultural land are usually receiving diverse contaminants from various sources that are characterized by constant, bioaccumulative and harmful contaminants. In the present study, sediment physico-chemical parameters and metal pollution of the Orhionmwon and Ikhiogbe Rivers, Ikpe, Edo State of Nigeria was assessed for the effects of anthropogenic activities. Sampling was conducted seasonally in August and September, 2021 for wet season and January for dry season. Samples were collected from four different stations using flat hand shovel and grab sampler. The samples were analysed using standard procedures. Heavy metals were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Of the 10 parameters measured only zinc varied significantly (<0.05) across the sites. Of all the 5 metals analysed, all were within the sediment quality guideline. Sediment physico-chemical parameters namely, electrical conductivity, phosphate, chromium, copper, lead and zinc positively correlates with one another. Contamination factor and Contamination degree across the stations indicates no /low contamination. The pollution load index values were below 1, suggestive of no pollution across the sites. The Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) showed no pollution with respect to all the heavy metals across the sites. Gradually as Ikpe community continues to become urbanized, the industries operating in the river catchment should adopt more sustainable and eco-innovative management options in order to attenuate potential ecological and human health risk of metal pollution.
