International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology

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Ecological Assessment for Trace Metal Pollution in a Freshwater Ecosystem

Received: Jun. 25, 2019    Accepted: Jul. 19, 2019    Published: Aug. 06, 2019
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Abstract

Heavy metals in the aquatic environment is of great ecological importance; hence, the study was carried out to evaluate the presence and effects of heavy metals on the water column, fish and sediment composition of Anambra River in July, 2011 and February, 2012 which covered both wet and dry season. The results of the physico- chemical properties showed significant variations (P<0.05) which occurred in DO and conductivity over the sampling seasons on different locations. pH, temperature and salinity showed seasonal difference at P<0.05 in different locations studied. There was no seasonal difference at P>0.05 among the heavy metal concentrations detected in sediment. Post Hoc test also showed no statistical variation (P>0.05) over the five locations: namely Enugu Otu, Ezi - Agulu Otu, Otuocha, Otu Nsugbe and Ukwuibili. There was stable relative non-statistical variations among the heavy metal concentration in the water column but numerical differences demonstrated variability (Otu-Nsugbe > Ezi Agulu Otu > Ukwuibili > Enugu Otu > Otuocha. For the fish species caught both in the rainy and dry season, Clarias gariepinus and Mugil cephalus showed higher (P <0.05) concentrations of Zn in dry than rainy season, while Heterotis niloticus showed higher (P<0.05) concentrations of Zn in rainy than dry season. The highest concentrations of heavy metals were detected in the sediment followed by the fish and finally the water column in a decreasing order of concentrations.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijee.20190403.11
Published in International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology ( Volume 4, Issue 3, September 2019 )
Page(s) 58-65
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Heavy Metal, Sediment, Fish, River

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Ezeonyejiaku Chigozie Damian, Okoye Charles Obinwanne, Ezenwelu Chijioke Obinna. (2019). Ecological Assessment for Trace Metal Pollution in a Freshwater Ecosystem. International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology, 4(3), 58-65. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20190403.11

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    ACS Style

    Ezeonyejiaku Chigozie Damian; Okoye Charles Obinwanne; Ezenwelu Chijioke Obinna. Ecological Assessment for Trace Metal Pollution in a Freshwater Ecosystem. Int. J. Ecotoxicol. Ecobiol. 2019, 4(3), 58-65. doi: 10.11648/j.ijee.20190403.11

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    AMA Style

    Ezeonyejiaku Chigozie Damian, Okoye Charles Obinwanne, Ezenwelu Chijioke Obinna. Ecological Assessment for Trace Metal Pollution in a Freshwater Ecosystem. Int J Ecotoxicol Ecobiol. 2019;4(3):58-65. doi: 10.11648/j.ijee.20190403.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijee.20190403.11,
      author = {Ezeonyejiaku Chigozie Damian and Okoye Charles Obinwanne and Ezenwelu Chijioke Obinna},
      title = {Ecological Assessment for Trace Metal Pollution in a Freshwater Ecosystem},
      journal = {International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology},
      volume = {4},
      number = {3},
      pages = {58-65},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijee.20190403.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20190403.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijee.20190403.11},
      abstract = {Heavy metals in the aquatic environment is of great ecological importance; hence, the study was carried out to evaluate the presence and effects of heavy metals on the water column, fish and sediment composition of Anambra River in July, 2011 and February, 2012 which covered both wet and dry season. The results of the physico- chemical properties showed significant variations (P0.05 among the heavy metal concentrations detected in sediment. Post Hoc test also showed no statistical variation (P>0.05) over the five locations: namely Enugu Otu, Ezi - Agulu Otu, Otuocha, Otu Nsugbe and Ukwuibili. There was stable relative non-statistical variations among the heavy metal concentration in the water column but numerical differences demonstrated variability (Otu-Nsugbe > Ezi Agulu Otu > Ukwuibili > Enugu Otu > Otuocha. For the fish species caught both in the rainy and dry season, Clarias gariepinus and Mugil cephalus showed higher (P Heterotis niloticus showed higher (P<0.05) concentrations of Zn in rainy than dry season. The highest concentrations of heavy metals were detected in the sediment followed by the fish and finally the water column in a decreasing order of concentrations.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Ecological Assessment for Trace Metal Pollution in a Freshwater Ecosystem
    AU  - Ezeonyejiaku Chigozie Damian
    AU  - Okoye Charles Obinwanne
    AU  - Ezenwelu Chijioke Obinna
    Y1  - 2019/08/06
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20190403.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijee.20190403.11
    T2  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
    JF  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
    JO  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
    SP  - 58
    EP  - 65
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-1735
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20190403.11
    AB  - Heavy metals in the aquatic environment is of great ecological importance; hence, the study was carried out to evaluate the presence and effects of heavy metals on the water column, fish and sediment composition of Anambra River in July, 2011 and February, 2012 which covered both wet and dry season. The results of the physico- chemical properties showed significant variations (P0.05 among the heavy metal concentrations detected in sediment. Post Hoc test also showed no statistical variation (P>0.05) over the five locations: namely Enugu Otu, Ezi - Agulu Otu, Otuocha, Otu Nsugbe and Ukwuibili. There was stable relative non-statistical variations among the heavy metal concentration in the water column but numerical differences demonstrated variability (Otu-Nsugbe > Ezi Agulu Otu > Ukwuibili > Enugu Otu > Otuocha. For the fish species caught both in the rainy and dry season, Clarias gariepinus and Mugil cephalus showed higher (P Heterotis niloticus showed higher (P<0.05) concentrations of Zn in rainy than dry season. The highest concentrations of heavy metals were detected in the sediment followed by the fish and finally the water column in a decreasing order of concentrations.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

  • Department of Zoology & Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

  • Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

  • Section