Article: Studies on the bioactive elements and nutrients distribution in surface sediments of Cross River Estuary, Calabar River and Great Kwa River, South - South Nigeria Journal: International Journal of Environment and Pollution (IJEP) 2023 Vol.73 No.1/2/3/4 pp.107 - 132 Abstract: The continuous misconception of the assimilative ability of water bodies has led to severe pollution of the marine ecosystem. This study was conducted to ascertain the pollution index of the rivers using surface sediment. The average concentrations of bioactive elements in Cross River Estuary (CRE), Calabar River (CR) and Great Kwa River (GKR) as determined were Fe:25.25 mg/kg, 30.82 mg/kg, 28.34 mg/kg Zn:5.30 mg/kg, 3.69 mg/kg, 3.22 mg/kg, Mn:1.37 mg/kg, 1.43 mg/kg, 0.77 mg/kg, Mg:14.95 mg/kg, 16.35 mg/kg, 16.42 mg/kg and Ni:8.91 mg/kg, 7.01 mg/kg and 8.46 mg/kg while that of the nutrients were NO3 --N:24.30 μM, 34.0 μM, 28.28 μM, NO2--N:0.66 μM, 1.00 μM, 1.53 μM, NH4+-N:5.34 μM, 5.40 μM, 6.82 μM, PO43--P:0.58 μM, 0.53 μM, 0.76 μM, TN:47.567 μM, 49.44 μM, 48.34 μM and TP:2.18 μM, 2.01 μM and 2.52 μM respectively. Generally, the average nutrients index of the rivers and the estuary showed an increasing trend of CRE<CR<GKR. The high nutrients load and bioactive elements concentrations observed in GKR and CR compared to that of CRE, are indicatives of tidal changes in the Estuary. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Studies on the bioactive elements and nutrients distribution in surface sediments of Cross River Estuary, Calabar River and Great Kwa River, South - South Nigeria

Authors: Mbuotidem Usen Ntinya; Nsidibe Inyang Akata; Vincent Ndem Osabor

Addresses: Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria ' Department of Environmental Resources Management, Abia State University, Uturu, 441103, Abia State, Nigeria ' Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract: The continuous misconception of the assimilative ability of water bodies has led to severe pollution of the marine ecosystem. This study was conducted to ascertain the pollution index of the rivers using surface sediment. The average concentrations of bioactive elements in Cross River Estuary (CRE), Calabar River (CR) and Great Kwa River (GKR) as determined were Fe:25.25 mg/kg, 30.82 mg/kg, 28.34 mg/kg Zn:5.30 mg/kg, 3.69 mg/kg, 3.22 mg/kg, Mn:1.37 mg/kg, 1.43 mg/kg, 0.77 mg/kg, Mg:14.95 mg/kg, 16.35 mg/kg, 16.42 mg/kg and Ni:8.91 mg/kg, 7.01 mg/kg and 8.46 mg/kg while that of the nutrients were NO₃^--N:24.30 μM, 34.0 μM, 28.28 μM, NO₂^--N:0.66 μM, 1.00 μM, 1.53 μM, NH₄⁺-N:5.34 μM, 5.40 μM, 6.82 μM, PO₄^3--P:0.58 μM, 0.53 μM, 0.76 μM, TN:47.567 μM, 49.44 μM, 48.34 μM and TP:2.18 μM, 2.01 μM and 2.52 μM respectively. Generally, the average nutrients index of the rivers and the estuary showed an increasing trend of CRE<CR<GKR. The high nutrients load and bioactive elements concentrations observed in GKR and CR compared to that of CRE, are indicatives of tidal changes in the Estuary.

Keywords: continuous misconception; assimilative ability; Cross River Estuary; Calabar River; Great Kwa River; surface sediments; bioactive elements; pollution index; average nutrients; average concentrations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2023.139860

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2023 Vol.73 No.1/2/3/4, pp.107 - 132

Received: 08 Aug 2023
Accepted: 30 Jan 2024
Published online: 08 Jul 2024 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article

Title: Studies on the bioactive elements and nutrients distribution in surface sediments of Cross River Estuary, Calabar River and Great Kwa River, South - South Nigeria

Keep up-to-date