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Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management
World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) - University of Port Harcourt
ISSN: 1119-8362
Vol. 24, No. 7, 2020, pp. 1145-1151
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Bioline Code: ja20167
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, Vol. 24, No. 7, 2020, pp. 1145-1151
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Sediment Quality of Orashi River at Four Oil Producing Communities of Nigeria
AKACHUKWU, D; NNAJI, JC; OJIMELUKWE, P.; ONOJA, S & ODO, S
Abstract
Bed Sediment samples were collected in the Dry Season from Orashi River at three sampling
sites each located in Mmahu, Opuoma, Abacheke and Ogwu Aniocha communities. Physicochemical parameters,
hydrocarbon and heavy metal (As, Cd, Fe and Pb) concentrations were determined with standard methods. Results
showed that total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) ranged from 0.11 ±0.03 to 1.91 ±0.25 mg/kg while total
hydrocarbon content (THC) and oil and grease had ranges of 0.28 ±0.06-2.98 ±0.19 and 0.69 ±0.09-3.60 ±0.57
mg/kg respectively. The sediment samples were classified as unpolluted in terms of TPH. Mean values for pH had
a range of 4.33 ±0.22 - 6.60 ±0.52 while the texture of most samples was sandy. Mean organic carbon contents
ranged from 0.58±0.07 to 3.15±0.66 % and mean total nitrogen and total phosphorus had ranges of 0.30±0.00 -2.77±0.46 and 17.34±1.65 - 29.48±1.63 mg/kg respectively. Mean Mg concentrations were significantly higher
(P<0.05) than the concentrations of other exchangeable bases and mean As concentration had a range of
1.175±0.086-1.291±0.335 mg/kg. Mean Cd concentrations ranged from 0.948±0.072 to 3.120±0.131 mg/kg while
mean Fe and Pb concentrations had ranges of 57.324±10.530-159.707±41.192 and 1.300±0.295-7.462±0.861 mg/kg
respectively. As and Pb values were lower than the sediment quality guidelines (SQG) but Cd values were higher
than the guidelines in all sites. Contamination factors (CFs) for As and Pb indicated low contamination while CFs
for Cd indicated moderate to considerable contamination. Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values for As and Pb at
all sites and that of Cd at one site indicated unpolluted, Igeo values for Cd at all other sites ranged between 0.210
and 1.571 indicating unpolluted to moderately polluted status.
Keywords
Sediment; Orashi; hydrocarbons; physicochemical; metals; contamination
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© Copyright 2020 - Akachukwu et al.
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