Assessment of Heavy Metals Concentration in Shore Sediments from the Bank of River Benue, North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

Heavy metals are elements, whose density is greater than water. They are generated from our environment. Rocks, sediments, plants, water and aerosol particles represent the carriers of heavy metals. An accumulated amount of heavy metal in the body, either by inhalation, food or drinking water, can cause an adverse health effect to human. The Benue river passed through the town of makurdi, was high population of the inhabitant of Benue State dwells. The industrial and agricultural activities carried out in this region, increase the concentration of heavy metals. This may result to adverse health effect on the inhabitant of Makurdi. The objectives of this work were to determine the heavy metal concentration and its site contaminations along the bank of river Benue, Makurdi. An inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to determine the heavy metals concentration. The metals concentrations (Iron, Copper, Manganese, Lead, Zinc, Chromium, Arsenic, and Cadmium) of the three stations were found. This ranges from 3.55 -9454.0 mg/kg, 0.20 -8928.0 mg/kg and 2.80 -13,657 mg/kg for stations 1, 2 and 3. With Fe recorded as the highest concentration in the sediment, this value is compared with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Surface Rock Average (WSRA) standard. The assessment on contamination status of heavy metals in the riverbank, showed low degree of contamination in stations 1 and 2, and moderate degree in station 3. The degree of enrichment to heavy metals in all the stations is deficient to minimal. The evaluation of the results of pollution load index (PLI) from this present study indicated PLI < 1 for station 2, and PLI > 1 in stations 1 and 3. Hence stations 1 and 3 are polluted, while station 2 is not polluted with heavy metals.

Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Food Crops at Abandoned Lead-Zinc Mining Site at Tse-Faga, Logo, Lga, Benue State, Nigeria

“…All the concentrations of zinc in the food crops were below the stipulated standard by WHO. These results are significantly lower than the reports of [34] who report mean value of Iron, Copper, Manganese, Lead, Zinc, Chromium, Arsenic, and Cadmium in station 1 of his study area from 3.55 -9454.0 mg/kg. Table 2, revealed a trend of higher mean concentrations of lead (Pb) in the inner parts of the food crops than in the outer parts.…”

Identification of Causes and The Existence of Mercury and Chromium in Sediment and Sea Water in Kendari Bay

“…The metal can also accumulate in the body of biota in the waters (including sessile macrozoobenthos), either diffusively or through the food chain and will eventually reach humans. This phenomenon is known as bioaccumulation or biomagnification (Emmanuel et al, 2018).…”

Evaluating the ecological consequences of heavy metal contamination in soil induced by spent engine oil and palm oil mill effluents for sustainable development

“…This is a positive outcome, suggesting that, at the time of the study, the levels of contaminants in the soil were within internationally recognized safety thresholds. Continuous monitoring, as advocated by Ogunbileje et al [5], Obasi et al [26], and Emmanuel et al [27], remains crucial to ensure sustained compliance with these standards and prevent any future exceedance. The comparative analysis of heavy metal concentrations in soils impacted by spent engine oil and palm oil mill effluents highlights the diverse environmental implications of industrial activities in Nigeria.…”