Determination of Physicochemical Properties of River Sediment and Heavy Metal Content from River Benue in Ibi, Taraba State
Article Sidebar
Page Numbers:
466-491
Digital Object Identifier:
10.58578/ajbmbr.v2i3.7787
Viewed: 148 times
Downloaded: 138 times
LYAS Publisher cordially invites qualified professionals to serve as Editors or Reviewers. Your expertise will make an important contribution to maintaining and strengthening the academic quality of our publications. Interested applicants are kindly requested to complete the application form at the following link: Editors & Reviewers
Please feel free to contact us if you need any further information about the submission process or if you have any additional questions.
Authors:Ogbonna Goodness1
Copyright :Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication.
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study assessed contamination levels, potential ecological risks, and pollutant sources of five heavy metals (HMs) in sediments of the River Benue within Ibi Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. Sediment samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical properties and trace metal concentrations, including total hydrocarbon content (THC), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). The results showed that the mean concentrations of the analyzed heavy metals and THC were below the permissible limits established by Nigerian regulatory standards. Similarly, physicochemical parameters—such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrate, total hydrogen content, sulphate, phosphate, and temperature—were within acceptable environmental limits. Pollution assessment indices, including the Enrichment Factor (EF), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), indicated low contamination levels, with values generally falling within World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Despite these low levels, the study suggests that anthropogenic activities in the region, such as agriculture, domestic discharge, and informal mining, may contribute to the presence of toxic substances in the sediments. The study warns that prolonged exposure to untreated water from this site poses potential health risks. Therefore, continuous environmental monitoring and pollution mitigation strategies are recommended to prevent future ecological degradation and associated public health concerns.
Citation Metrics:
Downloads
Article Details
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
References
Giuseppe, G., et al. (2020). Epidemiological evidence of heavy metal exposure and chronic disease risk. Environmental Research, 185, 109446.
Nollet, L. M. L. (2006). Handbook of water analysis (2nd ed.). CRC Press.
Raman, R. (2020). Health implications of trace metal exposure in developing countries. Journal of Environmental Health Science & Engineering, 18(2), 123–132.
Singovszka, E., & Baluintova, M. (2019). Sediment contamination and water quality assessment in urban rivers. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(3), 2345–2356.
Udongwo, A. (2025). Sources, pathways, and environmental impacts of heavy metal contamination in aquatic systems: A comprehensive review. Communication in Physical Sciences, 6(1), 1–15. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/cps/article/view/291043
USEPA. (2015). Toxicological profile for heavy metals. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
WHO. (2011). Guidelines for drinking-water quality (4th ed.). World Health Organization.
Aremu, M. O., et al. (2010). Impact of industrial and agricultural activities on sediment quality in Nigerian water bodies. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 4(2), 67–75.
Ashish, K., et al. (2019). Assessment of sediment contamination using physicochemical parameters and heavy metal analysis. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191(5), 1–12.
Mariusz, P., & Jaskula, P. (2022). Heavy metal pollution in aquatic sediments: Sources and ecological implications. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 44(3), 789–804.
Garvunga, T., et al. (2019). Sediment as a sink and source of heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems. Journal of Environmental Management, 231, 1–10.
Aremu, M. O., Ibrahim, H., & Adebayo, O. (2008). Heavy metal concentration of groundwater in Nigeria. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2(5), 112–118.
Atolaiye, B. O., Adebayo, A. O., & Ojo, A. A. (2006). Cadmium toxicity and health implications. Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences, 5(2), 45–51.
Chapman, D., & Kimstach, V. (2017). Water quality assessments: A guide to use of biota, sediments and water in environmental monitoring (2nd ed.). UNESCO/WHO/UNEP.
Hutton, M. (1987). Human health concerns of lead, mercury and cadmium. Science of the Total Environment, 57, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(87)90093-9
Neal, C. (2009). Phosphorus in soils of ancient landmasses. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 101(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2008.05.002
Raviraja, N. S., Sridhar, K. R., & Bärlocher, F. (2008). Lead toxicity and its impact on aquatic ecosystems. Journal of Environmental Biology, 29(3), 453–458.
Weiss, B., & Wright, D. (2001). Cadmium as a neurotoxin. Environmental Health Perspectives, 109(Suppl 1), 895–900. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.01109s1895
World Health Organization. (2020). Guidelines for drinking-water quality (4th ed.). WHO Press. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241548151