Heavy metal concentrations in the bank root sediments of the Calabar River, adjacent to the Marina resort, Calabar, Nigeria

摘要

The concentration of heavy metals in the bank root sediments of Calabar River which isadjacent to the Marina resort was analyzed from the months of July to September using the AAStechnique (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer). Samples were collected in two locations (bank rootproximal to the resort and opposite to the resort) from 3 sampling points (upstream, adjacent anddownstream). Heavy metals concentration in location 1 ranged between 0.43–345.07 mg/kg for Fe;0.46–3.85 mg/kg for Cd; 0.02–4.07 for Cr and 0.22–0.30 mg/kg for Al while in location 2 values rangedbetween 0.56–328.39 mg/kg for Fe; 1.29–3.22 mg/kg for Cd; 0.02–2.56 mg/kg for Cr and 0.33–0.77mg/kg for Al, with iron found to be in the highest concentration and chromium in the lower concentrationin the wet season. Some of the heavy metals analyzed were discovered to have exceeded the set limit ofFEPA and WHO standard level except for chromium (0.02 mg/kg) for the month of September at bothsampling locations. Analysis of variance did not differ significantly for all metals. This is an indication thatthere is utmost need to control industrial, domestic waste and sewage disposal into the Calabar River.