Copper toxicity in the ecosystems have becomes a global concern in recent times; therefore, there is need to curtail the increment of copper concentration within the environment. In this study, a total of 67 ground water samples were collected from the premises of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, at a depth of 90 cm. The water samples were collected during the peak of the rainy season (September 2019); when the water table of the study area was very high, close to the soil surface. Copper concentration of all the water samples collected was measured using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results showed that copper concentration in the study ranged between 1.01 mg/L and 2.105 mg/L. The spatial distribution of the copper concentration within the study area was determined using Geostatistical tool. Variation map developed from the results showed that the copper concentration does not spread uniformly across the study area. High copper concentration was generally recorded at the North Eastern and central parts of the school; while low copper concentration was recorded at the South Eastern part of the school. Furthermore, the results strongly showed that waste dump potentially affects the copper concentration of the ground water within the study area. This study results advocated the need for proper waste disposal with the polytechnic environment, and the adequate treatment of the groundwater before human consumption.
This study was carried to determine the level of heavy metals toxicity in swampy forest of Isoko South, Delta State, Nigeria. Sediments samples were collected from nine spatial points, within the swampy forest of Enwhe community of Delta State, Nigeria. The study area contained clusters of illegal crude oil refineries, before they were destroyed by the Nigeria military, during the first quarter of 2020. A total area of 1 km2 of the swampy environment was covered in this study. Six toxic heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Ni) contents, in the sediments were determined in accordance to international approved standards. The results revealed that the activities of the illegal refineries located in the study area, significantly increased the heavy metals toxicity in the sediments. When compared with the results obtained from a reference point, the concentrations of the heavy metals were significantly higher, across the study area. Within the study area, spatial points B and D sediments contained the highest heavy metals concentrations. In addition, the study revealed that contamination factor of the sediments ranged between moderate and high degree of heavy metals contamination. This portrayed the potential ecological risks of the illegal refineries activities, to the environment of the region. Therefore, if these illegal refineries activities are allowed to continue unabated, they will cause a serious ecological risk to the Niger Delta region ecosystems.
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