International Journal of Marine Science 2015, Vol.5, No.58: 1-6
1
A Letter Open Access
Distribution of Trace Metals in Water and Sediments of Qua Iboe River Estuary,
Nigeria
Vincent-Akpu I. F. , Offiong U.S
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Corresponding author email
International Journal of Marine Science, 2015, Vol.5, No.58 doi
Received: 29 Jul, 2015
Accepted: 28 Aug, 2015
Published: 28 Sep., 2015
Copyright
©
2015 Vincent-Akpu., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Vincent-Akpu I. F., Offiong U.S., 2015, Distribution of Trace Metals in Water and Sediments of Qua Iboe River Estuary, Nigeria, International Journal of Marine
Science, 5(58): 1-6
Abstract
Surface water and sediments collected from three stations along Qua Iboe Estuary, Niger Delta between January and June
2013 were analyzed for Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd). The trace metal concentrations (mg/L) in surface water
were 0.08, 0.17, 0.01, 0.004 for Fe, Zn, Pb and Cd, respectively and 0.59, 0.33, 0.04 and 0.02 mg/kg in sediments respectively for the
same metals. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the trace metals for all seasons except Pb in water (p>0.05). Positive
significant correlations (p<0.05) exist between the metals in sediments which revealed their co-accumulation potentials. Trace metal
concentrations in water and sediment were below the maximum permissible level recommended by national and international
standards except for lead in water. Thus Qua Iboe estuary is relatively suitable for fish production and domestic use despite effluent
discharges into the estuary.
Keywords
water permissible level; surface water; sediment; Qua Iboe; Niger Delta
1 Introduction
Increasing population growth, with urbanization and
industrialization at the coastal regions in recent
decades have regularly introduced toxic pollutants
especially metals into the aquatic ecosystem (Montalvo et
al., 2014; Conceição et al., 2013; Adekola et al., 2003;
Anikwe and Nwobodo, 2002). Metals are important
environmental contaminants due to their toxicity,
persistence and their tendency to accumulate in
aquatic organisms. They are transported as dissolved
species in water or as an integral part of suspended
sediments (Ataluegwu, 2005).
Metals are deposited in bottom sediments via complex
physical, chemical and biological processes (Bader et
al., 2015; Wen and Allen, 1999; Leivouri, 1998).
Sediments play an important role as a sink for
pollutants and may be remobilized by natural and
man-made processes, which can pose risk to the
aquatic ecosystem. Sediments have recently been
considered as diffused sources of environmental
contaminants and can endanger public health by being
incorporated into the food chain or released into
overlying waters which serve as drinking water
supplies (Aguilar et al., 2012, Wogu and Okaka, 2011
Baudo et al., 1990).
Organisms require trace metals such as cobalt, iron,
magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, for their normal
physiological functioning. However, non-essential
trace metals are sometimes present in the food chain
and may become toxic at higher concentrations. The
environmental risks of trace metals have been, and
will continue to be, an important issue of great
concern and significance.
Estuaries are rich in nutrient and serve as breeding site
for fishery resources. Qua Iboe River estuary is an
important estuary in Niger Delta because it serves as a
major source of water for the predominantly rural
population of the area; supports the artisanal fisheries;
water ways and cultural values of the people. Despite
the importance of the estuary, there are massive
infrastructural and industrial developments of the
region by government and private individuals. The
estuary is situated in close proximity to the Exxon
-Mobil oil effluent treatment and discharge plant.
Their treated and untreated industrial wastes are
discharged into the Atlantic Ocean but may recede
into the estuary due to tidal motion. The shoreline of
Qua Iboe estuary is occasionally inundated by spilled
oil when it occurs. Oil spill can cause not only
hydrocarbon contamination but metal and other
