Physico-chemical parameters of surface water and sediment of Azuabie creek, Rivers state, Nigeria: a water body receiving abattoir wastes

Abstract

Physico-chemical parameters were determined in water and sediment samples collected from the Azuabie Creek, Rivers State, Nigeria. This was to establish that run-off from the abattoir affected heavy metals concentrations and other physico-chemistry properties of water. Water samples were collected from 5 stations along Azuabie creek and 3 stations along the Azuabie creek-let, Niger Delta between September 2006 and July 2007. These stations were selected to reflect various points of do-mestic waste inputs into the creek with Station 6 opposite the abattoir as the point source, Stations 1 to 3 within a creek-let that receives run-offs from shore settlers as well as from some industries, and upstream Station 8 as control. Surface water temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity and salinity were typical of the tropics with spatial and seasonal variations. Total dissolved solids was high especially at Stations 1 to 3 in the creek-let with values above Federal Ministry of Environment maximum limit of 1500 mg/L, indicating an impact from effluents. Essential metals detected in water were iron, copper, zinc and chromium. Non-essential metals in water were arsenic and lead. Nickel, cadmium, vanadium and mercury were below detection limit. Physico-chemical parameters indicated an impact from the abattoir wastes. Principal Component Analysis of surface water and sediment characteristics indicated some stations as distinct on their own from other stations.

Key Words: Water quality parameters, heavy metals, abattoir wastes, pollution, PCA analysis, Azuabie creek

 Physico-chemical parameters of surface water and sediment of Azuabie creek, Rivers state, Nigeria: a water body receiving abattoir wastes