Vol. 4, Issue 1 (2016)
Levels of heavy metal concentration in water, sediment and fish in Ikpoba River, Benin City, Edo State Nigeria
Author(s): Osa-Iguehide I, Anegbe B, Okunzuwa IG, Ighodaro A, Aigbogun J
Abstract: Ikpoba River is the ultimate recipient for municipal waste and industrial effluent in Benin City, samples of water, sediment and fish were collected at five different locations in the river for some selected heavy metal analysis in order to determine the extent of pollution. Samples were collected in June, July and August 2013. The heavy metals were determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). In water the heavy metal concentration were found to be in the order, Pb>Cu>Zn>Cd the mean concentration of heavy metal in the water ranged from 0.024±0.004 to 0.064±0.07mg/L, 0.022±0.002 to 0.042±0.002mg/L and 0.007±0.002 to 0.020±0.002mg/L, for Lead, Copper and Zinc respectively. Cadmium were below detection limit of the equipment used. In sediment the concentration of heavy metal were found to be in the following order Cu>Zn>Pb>Cd. The mean concentration of heavy metal in sediment ranged from 0.233±0.060 to 0.704±0.162µg/g, 0.207±0.016 to 0.432±0.041µg/g, 0.081±0.029µg/g to 0.252±0.027µg/g and 0.098±0.004 to 0.138±0.037µg/g, for Copper, Zinc, Lead and Cadmium respectively. The concentration of heavy metal in fish followed the order Zn>Pb>Cd>Cu, the mean concentration of heavy metal in the fish ranged from 0.387±0.014µg/g to 0.646±0.079µg/g, 0.247±0.057 to 0.394±0.074µg/g, 0.148±0.009µg/g to 0.176±0.006µg/g and 0.049±0.007 to 0.065±0.005µg/g for Zinc, Lead, Cadmium and Copper respectively. Most of the heavy metal determine were below the maximum permissible limit set by FEPA and WHO except Lead whose mean concentration was above the WHO and FEPA standard of 0.01mg/L for water and the maximum permissible limit of 0.3µg/g of FOA for fish.
Pages: 48-53 | 1805 Views 124 Downloads
download (3448KB)
How to cite this article:
Osa-Iguehide I, Anegbe B, Okunzuwa IG, Ighodaro A, Aigbogun J. Levels of heavy metal concentration in water, sediment and fish in Ikpoba River, Benin City, Edo State Nigeria. Int J Chem Stud 2016;4(1):48-53.
