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Article Title:
ASSESSMENT OF CD, FE, CR, CU, MN AND PB CONCENTRATION IN WATER AND SEDIMENT FROM ALADJA AND OLERI RIVER, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

by R. Okoh; J. O. Akpoghelie; and K. J. Awatefe

Abstract:
This study assessed the concentrations of heavy metals such as Cd, Fe, Cr, Cu, Mn and Pb in water and sediment samples collected from the Aladja and Oleri River. Sediment samples were collected from four sample sites namely, Jeti Area, Aladja River, Oleri River and Aladja community. Heavy metals in water samples were extracted with concentrated HCl and preserved in a refrigerator prior to metal analysis. Sediment samples were digested by the mixture of 2cm3 of 60% concentrated Perchloric acid and 15cm3 of concentrated nitric acid in a ratio 2:1 acid. Results from this study reveal that Ni, Pb, Mn and Cd were below detectable limit in the water samples. Fe, Cu, Cr and Zn observed an appreciable amount of the metal concentration but all concentration exist below the FEPA maximum acceptable limit. The concentrations of the metals in the sediment samples for Ni ranges from 11.84 � 0.06 and 14.23 � 0.06 mg/kg; Pb: 7.45 � 0.04 and 11.22 � 0.67 mg/kg; Fe: 3084 � 4.51and 6045 � 5.03 mg/kg; Cu: 54.17 � 0.04 and 92.29 � 0.05 mg/kg; Cr: 3.81 � 0.05 and 4.84 � 0,05 mg/kg; Zn: 38.58 � 0.05 and 57.74 � 0.05; Mn: 78.40 � 0.05 and 186.47 � 0.06 mg/kg and Cd: 3.14 � 0.04 and 4.53 � 0.03 mg/kg respectively. Analysis reveals that all the metals under investigation were within the FEPA maximum detectable limit. By comparing the accumulation of heavy metals in both water and sediments, it can be concluded that the heavy metals are highly accumulated in sediments than water, since the sediments act as reservoir for all contaminants and dead organic matter descending from the ecosystem above. However, the concentration of heavy metals in the sediments shows a degree of pollution. The short and long � term impact of the effluents discharged into the surrounding environment by the Delta Steel Company, Aladja may results to be fatal to both aquatic and human life. Hence, with this study aimed at assessing the effect of the activities of the Delta Steel Company in the Aladja and Oleri River, Delta State, Nigeria for the level of heavy metal enrichment in the sediments as well as the contamination status at the various discharge points, the continued discharge of improperly treated effluent may further compound the environmental problems of these immediate communities. Therefore the treatment of water is essential before been discharged into the outside rivers, streams, lakes or water bodies.

Keywords: FEPA, Aladja river, oleri river, effluents and heavy metals, assessment, sediment, water.

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