Abstract
Five heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Ni, Cd, Fe) were accessed in surface sediments from Ikpoba River in Benin City, South of Nigeria; an area impacted by soil erosion and the Benin Water Storm project. The heavy metals were analysed using atomic absorption spectrometer. The mean concentrations of heavy metals were 0.543 mg/kg (Pb), 1.289 mg/kg (Ni), 0.001 mg/kg (Cd), 18.90143 mg/kg (Cu) and 1022 mg/kg (Fe) respectively. Human health risk assessment was used to assess the pollution degree of the river sediments. The results indicated that the pollution degree of heavy metals increased in the order Fe>Cu>Ni>Pb>Cd. Human health risk assessment indicated that noncarcinogenic risks all fell below threshold level for both children and adults. The total carcinogenic risk due to Pb and Cd were within the acceptable range for both adults and children. The findings provide a scientific basis for the control of potentially toxic heavy metals concentrations and environmental protection of Ikpoba River.Keywords: Metals; Contamination Risk; River; Sediment
Highlights
Benin City, South of Nigeria; an area impacted by soil erosion and the Benin Water Storm project
Pb, Zn, and Cu were investigated for their non-carcinogenic risks while Cd and Ni were assessed for their carcinogenic risks through ingestion and dermal route in both children and adults
The results suggested that there would not be a noncarcinogenic risk caused by heavy metals for children and adults, the Hazard index (HI) values for children were an order of magnitude higher than that for adults
Summary
Benin City, South of Nigeria; an area impacted by soil erosion and the Benin Water Storm project. The freshwater environment has become contaminated with a wide range of pollutants, causing worldwide attention over the last few decades (Amoozadeh et al, 2014) One of these groups of contaminants are heavy metals. Potentially toxic elements can migrate with a carrier and are eventually absorbed by fine mineral particles in sediments and soils leading to contamination of aquatic environments This has the potential to cause serious aquatic ecosystem and human health impairments (Xia et al, 2018). Contamination of sediments with heavy metals is an environmentally important issue with consequences for aquatic organisms and human health, their quality can indicate the status of water pollution (Zahra et al, 2014). The aim of this study is to assess of human health risk for surface
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