Hydrocarbon and heavy metal pollution of water and sediments of Cross River and Akwa Ibom coastal waters, Nigeira

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J. ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, Val. 32(1) 27-36,2006-2006

UYDROCARBON AND HEAVY METAL POLLUTION OF WATER AND SEDIMEN$S OF CROSS RMER AND AKWA IBOM COASTAL WATERS, NIGERIA,

FLORA E. O W F A

Unlversiiy of Ibadan, Nigeria

A study was nnderbken to determine the total hydrocarbon (THC) and heavy

metal contents of water (surface: 0-15 cm and bottom: 2-13 m), sediments (intertidal and waterbed) in coaspl areas of Cross River and ^AkwaIbom

States of Nigeria affected by a major oil spill in 1998, Water ahd sediment samples were collected in the

%

^(Marchand December) and wet (July and October) seasons between 1999 and 2002. Significant spatial variation

(p < 0.05) was obsewed for THC and heavy metals. THC (m&) averaged

0.998 for surface and 0.827 for $onom water. AU heavy metals of interest:

chromium, copper, ^cadmium,l+ iron, manganese, zinc, and vanadium were present in samples and sediments contained significantly higher

(p < 0.05) THC and heavy metals than water. Concentratiw of ^'PHCin water

snd sediments &ceded World I/ealth Organization's limits b j an average of 0.9979 and 0.8269 mg/L in surface and bottum waters respectively.

Accidental spills of petroleum and iis products occur [I]. There were 5,334 spill incidents reported in Nigeria between 1 976 and 1997 involving 2.8 million barrels of oil released onto land,

swam

estuaries, and coastal waters

[z].

Materials discharged into coastal areas are f u y d

in

the water column as well as sediments in open sea areas. Persistent hydrobhobic contaminants have a strong affinity for fine-grained particles and consequently their sorption and. settling into the

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sediment is a major renaoval mechanism while river-borne particles and sediments act as carriers ^ofcontamiaants and there are periods of re-suspension, transport and sedimentation [31.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nine sites on the cross River, Calabar River (a tributary of the Cross River) and Zbeno coasff h e were studied. The study areas were located in both Akwa lbom and Cross River ^Statesof Nigeria: Calabar River Estuary, Oron water dlannel, I b h water channel ^(alsocalled~Tom Short or Jamestown), ;James Island, Ikang water channel, Calabar River at Odukpani, the bridgehead ^atAyadehe, Qua Iboe terminal ^atIbeno and Ifeta, the reference location. These were labeled 1 to 9 respectively as shown in _Figure1 .

Flgure I. Map of Akwa lbom and Cross River States showing the'study locations.

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bed sediments at same locations.

The

sediment particle sizes obtained ranged from fine, ^medium,and coarse sand to mixtures of silt and clay. The sediment particle she directly influences the of pollutants; The dynamics, vari- ability, and availability of pollutants like hydrocarbons and heavy metals depend mainly on sediments and its chcteristics, Sediments made up mainly of siltlcIay Eractions retain more pollptants than sandy sediments [25

3.

The concen- trations ^ofheavy metals in ^sedimentmore than in ^waterreflect the extent of impact by industrialization. The presence 'of heavy metals in sediments over the background levels indicated mthropogenic inputs 1261.

Fe was the dominant metal in the sediments in both seasons and tended ^to depend on the siltlclay -on. Higher concentrations of cadmium were recorded in a11 the stations than both the# continental crust and unpolluted sediments for inland water, which could b{ due to p t e r inputs of cadmium into the environment through human actiyities like poor chemical use and disposal.

Lower concentrations of copper, lead, manganese, and zinc were reported than present in zu1polluted sediments, continental crust, the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria, and the Atlantic Coast. The concentrations of THC obtained during the dry season in sediments wen bigher than the v&es obtained fo the Niger Delta area [27]. The highest concentrations of THC were recorded close to oil activity sites (Station 8).

CONCLUSION

The sediment types and water quality varied with locations. Higher concentrations of THC and heavy metals bere encountered in sediments than water. It was recommendd that there should be regular monitoring and enforcement of environmental regulations. The release of heavy metals and oil into the environment should be c~ntrolled.~ There is a need to itlvolve all stakeholders in environmental management,~propctiog and decision -making. -

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D k c t reprint requests to:

Prof. Flora E, Olaifa

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries anagemat University of Ibadan

Nigeria

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e-mail: [email protected]