Sediment quality of lower reaches of Okpoka Creek, Niger Delta, Nigeria
The sediment is the ultimate sink of contaminants in the aquatic systems. The physico-chemical quality of sediments lower reaches of Okpoka Creek was assessed for two years (wet and dry lsons).Sediment samples were collected at low and high tides from three stations according to standard methods. These were analysed for sediment particle size (sand, silt and clay), pH, total hydrocarbon (THC), total organic matter (TOM), total organic carbon (TOC) and conductivity. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Duncan multiple range (DMR) and Pearson correlation cofficient were used to analyse the data. The sediment consisted of sand (57.86 ~c2.65%); silt 17.47~c1.68%) and clay (24.67~c1.33%). Sediment particle size showed significant spatial variation (p< 0.05).The sediment values pH (5.22~c0.27) and THC (0.24 ~c0.05g/g) were low unlike TOM (2.42~c0.26%), TOC (1.43~c0.17%) and conductivity (5077.61~c 847.88s/cm).The TOM and TOC values exceeded FEPA and USEPA acceptable levels in sediments. The presence high levels of TOM and TOC indicate organic pollution in the lower reaches of Okpoka Creek. Therefore, environmental surveillance of these parts of the creek is advocated.
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| Format: | conference_item biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Fisheries Society of Nigeria
2009
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| Subjects: | Earth Sciences, Pollution, Nigeria, Okpoka Creek, freshwater environment, Sediment analysis, Sediments, Sediment chemistry, Sediment load, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/38008 |
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