Physico-chemical parameters of surface water and sediment of Azuabie creek, Rivers state, Nigeria: a water body receiving abattoir wastes

Abstract

Physico-chemical parameters were determined in water and sediment samples collected from the Azuabie Creek, Rivers State, Nigeria. This was to establish that run-off from the abattoir affected heavy metals concentrations and other physico-chemistry properties of water. Water samples were collected from 5 stations along Azuabie creek and 3 stations along the Azuabie creek-let, Niger Delta between September 2006 and July 2007. These stations were selected to reflect various points of do-mestic waste inputs into the creek with Station 6 opposite the abattoir as the point source, Stations 1 to 3 within a creek-let that receives run-offs from shore settlers as well as from some industries, and upstream Station 8 as control. Surface water temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity and salinity were typical of the tropics with spatial and seasonal variations. Total dissolved solids was high especially at Stations 1 to 3 in the creek-let with values above Federal Ministry of Environment maximum limit of 1500 mg/L, indicating an impact from effluents. Essential metals detected in water were iron, copper, zinc and chromium. Non-essential metals in water were arsenic and lead. Nickel, cadmium, vanadium and mercury were below detection limit. Physico-chemical parameters indicated an impact from the abattoir wastes. Principal Component Analysis of surface water and sediment characteristics indicated some stations as distinct on their own from other stations.Key Words: Water quality parameters, heavy metals, abattoir wastes, pollution, PCA analysis, Azuabie creek Physico-chemical parameters of surface water and sediment of Azuabie creek, Rivers state, Nigeria: a water body receiving abattoir wastes