TITLE:
Heavy Metal Dispersion in Stream Sediments in River Iyiudene, Abakaliki South-Eastern Nigeria: Source, Distribution Pattern, and Contamination Assessment
AUTHORS:
Emmanuel U. Nwazue, Erepamo J. Omietimi, Eniye Mienye, Osayamen J. Imarhiagbe, Olumide A. Adeosun, Paulinus N. Nnabo
KEYWORDS:
Benue Trough, Heavy Metals, Contamination, Stream Sediments, Single Pollution Index, Correlation Matrix
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.10 No.7,
July
13,
2022
ABSTRACT: River Iyiudene is a vital distributary resource in Abakaliki,
southeastern Nigeria and conveys an abundant amount of sediments to provincial
and residual ecosystems. Although the importance of the river cannot be
overemphasized, the geochemistry of its stream sediments is less investigated.
Twenty (20) stream sediment samples were taken at the centre of the river
channels to represent the entire drainage area well and avoid collapsed bank
materials. The stream sediment samples were used to determine the dispersion,
contamination status and sources of heavy metal concentrations. Total elemental
digestion accompanied this with the use of aqua regia, an admixture of
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and Nitric acid (HNO3) in the ratio of 3:1
using the atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). The heavy metal concentration
levels in River Iyiudene were low compared with sediments from Imo River, Gulf
of California, Upper continental crust, Average shale and surface horizons,
excluding Cd, which showed high concentration levels than the other reference studies.
The results delineated a wide contrast in the concentration levels of the heavy
metals, with the mean contents in the order Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd > Ni
> As. The pollution evaluation utilizing the Effect range low (ERL), Effect
range median (ERM), single pollution index, and geo-accumulation index revealed
Cd contamination. This study indicates that the heavy metals were sourced from
the natural geological background of the river basin and possibly from
agricultural runoff and atmospheric pollutants.