Abstract
The concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni and V were investigated.Samples were collected fortnightly from five (5) stations for four months (July to September, 2009) using Ekman grab operated by hand in shallow water. Station 1 is upstream (Old capitol bridge) and stations 2, 3, 4 and 5 are downstream. The main concentrations (ppm) in stations 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are: 931, 117, 812, 679 and 619.7 (Fe); 12.11, 21.08, 9.58, 8.64 and 7.89 (Mn); 9.90, 12.5, 9.64, 7.07 and 6.62 (Zn); 7.88, 8.04, 5.81, 4.34 and 3.88 (Cu); 0.48, 0.61, 0.36, 0.26, and 0.28 (Pb); 0.19, 0.26, 0.13, 0.12 and 0.11 (Cr); 0.12, 0.16, 0.08, 0.08 and 0.08 (Cd); 0.13, 0.19, 0.13, 0.11 and 0.11 (Ni) and 0.10, 0.15, 0.10, 0.09 and 0.09 (V). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that Fe (Stations 1 and 2), Cr (Stations 1 and 2) and Cd (Station 2) were significantly different (p<0.05) between stations. All parameters studied were below FEPA limits. The heavy metal concentrations in bottom sediments of Ikpoba River showed a seasonalpattern of variation. This investigation in comparison with earlier study based on data from Jimoh, 2006; show that Fe and Mn concentration increased overtime while Cd, Pb, and Cu did not.
Highlights
Bottom sediment is an integral part of the abiotic components of aquatic ecosystem
Bottom sediment is to benthos what water column is to a vast array of non-benthos and to a large extent characterizes the entire aquatic ecosystem due to the condition arising at the water-sediment boundary (Linnik and Zubenko, 2000)
The heavy metals concentration of Ikpoba River showed a seasonal pattern of variation
Summary
Bottom sediment is an integral part of the abiotic components of aquatic ecosystem. Pollution of natural environment by heavy metals is a worldwide problem because these metals are indestructible and most of them have toxic effects on living organisms, when they exceed a certain concentration. Egborge (1991) related the heavy metal pollution of Warri River to industrialization. He reported that Fe was exceptionally high, all parameters were within the set standard. Pollution of aquatic ecosystem with heavy metals is ecologically significant because they cannot be eliminated from the reservoir even in the process of self-purification. Pollution of aquatic ecosystem with heavy metals is ecologically significant because they cannot be eliminated from the reservoir even in the process of self-purification. (Sharma, 2006)
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