Heavy Metals Determination and Assessment in a Petroleum Impacted River in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract

The concentrations of heavy metals (mg/g) Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr, Fe, Co, Cd, and Hg in the water and sediments of river Ijana Warri, were determined in order to assess the impact of petroleum-processing activities on the river and the surrounding environment. The data showed that the levels of these metals ranged between 0.15-1.18 and 0.10-0.48 in sediment and water respectively. The heavy metals concentrations reported for the water have an abundance trend in the order of Pb>Fe>Ni>Cr>Cu>Co>Cd>Hg, while those of the sediments are in the order of Pb>Fe>Cr>Ni>Cu>Cd>Hg>Co. The control analysis was carried out in a non-oil polluted river (Ikpoba River) and the values served as base line values for the study.