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Heavy Metal Contamination and Sediment Quality in the Niger River: A Multi-Index Approach

2026-02-20T19:35:48Z

Title: Heavy Metal Contamination and Sediment Quality in the Niger River: A Multi-Index Approach Authors: Olowo, U. C.; Ogiesoba-Eguakun, C. U.; Ayanwale, V. A.; Adama, S. B.; Arimoro, F. O. Abstract: Sediment quality serves as a critical indicator for evaluating pollution levels in aquatic environments. This study assessed the concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn) and sediment quality in the Niger River at two locations: Agenebode and Illushi. Results indicated that the concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn were generally higher in sediments from Agenebode compared to Illushi and followed the order: Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Cd > Pb, with mean concentrations exceeding sediment quality guidelines established by USEPA for most metals, except Zn at Illushi and Mn/Pb at both sites. The contamination factor (CF) revealed moderate contamination for Cd at Agenebode and Illushi, Pb at Agenebode, and Mn at Illushi (1 ≤ CF < 3), while other metals showed CF values below 1, indicating low contamination. Pollution Load Index (PLI) values were below 1 across both sites, signifying no overall metal pollution, while geo-accumulation index (Igeo) for Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn ranged between 0 and 1, indicating no contamination, with specific Igeo values of -3.6910 at Agenebode and -3.6288 at Illushi. The mean Igeo ranking of heavy metal pollution was Pb > Cd > Fe > Cu > Mn > Zn at Agenebode and Mn > Cd > Zn > Fe > Cu > Pb at Illushi, while the individual ecological risk (Er) and the potential ecological risk index (PERI) suggested low ecological risk for heavy metals at both study sites. The river plays a vital role as a livelihood source for surrounding communities, ensuring the quality of its water and sediments is essential. Continuous monitoring and assessment of heavy metal contamination is recommended to effectively evaluate ecological risks and guide pollution management strategies for the Niger River.

The Effect of Flood Regime on Water Quality and Plankton Distribution in Bosso Area, Minna, Niger State

2026-02-20T18:21:58Z

Title: The Effect of Flood Regime on Water Quality and Plankton Distribution in Bosso Area, Minna, Niger State Authors: Adama, B. S.; Mohammed, Y. M.; Musa, I. N; Samuel, P. O.; Saba, J. J. Abstract: Flooding endangers lives and property, and it can lead to surface water pollution, reducing access to potable water and destroying wildlife habitats. This study investigated the effect of flood on water quality and plankton in two selected water bodies in within Minna Metropolis, Niger state, Nigeria. Water samples were collected for physicochemical parameters and plankton identification using standard methods and procedures. Samples were collected for a period of six (6) months (April to September 2021). The result of the physiochemical parameters showed temperature (26.0-28.5°C), flow velocity (0.23 to 0.26 m/s), dissolved oxygen (6.4-10.0mg/l), turbidity (30-240 NTU), pH (7.21-7.53), TSS (0.04-0.04), electrical conductivity (69-228 µS/cm) and total dissolved solid (60-220 mg/l). Most of these parameters were within the WHO permissible limits. From all the parameters measured, temperature, DO, pH and TSS showed no significance difference (p>0.05) between the water bodies while turbidity, total alkalinity, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solid exhibit significant difference (p<0.05) between the water bodies with Fadipe Pool recording higher values in most of the parameters. A total of 12 phytoplankton species were identified comprising of 3 families which are Bacillariophyceae (2), Chlorophyceae (6), and Cyanophyceae (4). For the zooplankton, a total of 11 species are made up of 3 taxa which are Cladocera (4), Copepoda (2), and Rotifera (5). In this study, several plankton species that serve as indicator organisms were identified which is indication of a disturbed water bodies.

Assessment of the Ecology of Diatoms in Relation to Environmental Variables in Landzu River Bida Niger State Nigeria

2026-02-20T17:55:58Z

Title: Assessment of the Ecology of Diatoms in Relation to Environmental Variables in Landzu River Bida Niger State Nigeria Authors: Mohammed, A. Z.; Adama, S. B.; Adamu, A. S.; Auta, Y. I.; Mohammed, Y. M. Abstract: Diatoms are widely utilised as excellent environmental indicators due to their ability to react to a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological changes that take place in the aquatic environment. This study was carried out to investigate some aspects of the ecology of diatoms in relation to environmental variables in Landzu River Bida, Niger state Nigeria. Samples were collected from five (5) sampling station and analysed using standard methods and procedures. The results show water temperature (23.63±2.18-25.75±0.25°C), Water depth (23.76±4.87-36.32±3.21cm), Flow velocity ranged (0.011±0.00-0.182±0.01), Water pH (7.28±0.37-7.48±0.35), Transparency (20.50±0.15- 22.01±0.31cm), Electrical conductivity (118.95±0.21-144.6±0.23 µS/cm). Dissolved oxygen concentration (6.4±0.50-7.70±0.19 mg/l), the Biochemical oxygen demand (2.14±0.23-2.55±0.26mg/l), total hardness (30.5±3.19-31.26±2.8.33mg/l), alkalinity (13.83±0.74-14.00±0.71mg/l), Nitrate (0.014±0.00-0.035±0.00mg/l), Phosphate (0.028±0.01 to 0.03±0.00mg/l) the total dissolved solids (111.86±1.49 to 131.18±1.90), Magnesium (0.018±0.01-0.053±0.00mg/l), Zinc (12.02±9.00- 23.45±3.00 mg/l), Nickel (4.90±0.45-5.51±0.52mg/l), Lead (0.44±0.07-1.84±0.04mg/l) and Manganese (12.58±1.30-19.43±2.70 mg/l). All the physicochemical variables measured show no significant (p>0.05) difference between the sampling stations except depth, flow velocity, dissolved oxygen, phosphate and total dissolved solids which differ significantly (p<0.05) among the sampling stations while all the heavy metal differs significantly (p<0.05) between the sampling stations except magnesium and nickel. A total of 2499 individual organisms from 25 species were identified. Station 2 had the highest number of individuals with 561 organisms, followed by station 5 with 511 organisms while station 4 had 505 organisms. Station 1 had 481 organisms, while station 3 had the lowest with 441 organisms. The study shows diatom assemblage is influenced by human activities.

Physico-chemical Variables, Heavy Metals and Macro-invertebrates Distribution along a Pharmaceutical Wastewater Impacted Stream in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

2026-02-20T17:27:14Z

Title: Physico-chemical Variables, Heavy Metals and Macro-invertebrates Distribution along a Pharmaceutical Wastewater Impacted Stream in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria Authors: Adama, B. S.; Isah, U. K.; Yohanna, A. I.; Mohammed, A. Z.; Patrick, O. S.; Saba, J. J. Abstract: This study investigated the effect of Pharmaceutical effluent on the physico-chemical parameters, heavy Metals and macro-invertebrates distribution along a pharmaceutical wastewater impacted stream in Minna. All parameters were determined using Standard method. Collection of sample was done in 4 sites of the Stream in Maitumbi, Minna. The method of APHA, (Abboud, 2014) was employed for the physico-chemical parameters with the use of Multi-parameter meter (H19813) Grochek and Dissolved Oxygen Analyzer model Model JPB-607. The heavy metal determination was carryout using the procedure of (Kruis, 2005; APHA, 2014) and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) model MY15110001. High performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used for determination of anti-bionics in the effluent from the four samples sites. Macro-invertebrates samples were collected and analyzed using the procedures of APHA, (2014). Statistical analysis of data was done at 5% level of signiicance (P< 0.05). Results showed that pH (7.6 ± .28-8.94 ± .61), Electrical Conductivity (463.6 ± 115.59-1710.6 ± 682.32 µs/cm), Temperature (26.4 ± .55 -33.46 ± 1.26°c), TDS (223.4 ± 55) (1433 ± 170.79 mg/l). Dissolved Oxygen.(3.44 ± .534.64 ± .14 mg/l), Alkalinity (118 ± 19.54-1238 ± 95.7 mg/l), Calcium (28.592 ± 5.76- 44.66 ± 7.22 mg/l), carbon dioxide (6.084 ± 1.1819.35 ± 4.56 mg/l) Total Hardness (71.4 ± 6.5-153 ± 29.35) was within the acceptable limits set by Nigeria industrial Standard (NIS) and (WHO). Majority of other variables tested have values that are beyond the standard values of WHO, FEPA and USEPA with Conductivity and TDS having outrageous results. Similarly, the results of heavy metals analysis showed Lead to be absent in the effluents, but, indicates that Cadmium (0.00 ± 00-0.35 ± .31 mg/l), Copper (0.25 ± 0.12-29 ± 0.49 mg/l), Manganese (0.14 ± 0.05-25 ± 60 mg/l) was detected at levels above the acceptable limit set by national and international Standard organizations. The results of Macro-invertebrates shows a total of 148 macro-invertebrate taxa, representing 3 orders in 6 families recorded during the 6-month study. Of the major fauna groups, diptera contributed the highest percentage 70.95% of individual abundance which was significantly diferent (P<0.05) among stations. Pollution tolerant (Chironomus) species at sites were better represented at station 2, 3and 4. The results of anti-biotic analyzed are; Ciprofloxacin (concentration 0.049 µ/cm, 0.099 µ/cm, 0.203 µ/ cm) and 0.188 µ/cm (Control); Amoxicillin (0.571 µ/cm; 0.3 µ/cm; 0.076 µ/cm; and 0.045 µ/cm (Control) Ampicillin (0.296 µ/cm,0.12 µ/cm,0.597 µ/cm and 0.296 µ/cm(Control); Metronidazole (0.249 µ/cm, 0.125 µ/cm,0.063 µ/cm and 0.011 µ/cm(Control); Tetracycline (0.104 µ/cm, 0.099 µ/cm, 0.048 µ/cm, and 0.023 µ/cm (Control). They are at concentrations more than or equal to detection limits of selected methods. The presence of the drug signifies possible seepage of pharmaceutical effluents into groundwater. The presence of some Dipteran Species associated with low dissolved oxygen levels in the impacted site bears credence to the fact that the chemical components of the waste water were lethal to some aquatic forms. This calls for an abrupt use of modern treatments plants to reduce the level of toxicity that may results from discharge of the effluents which find their way into the water bodies around and pose threat to man and animals that depends on such water for survival. The use of bio-indicator organisms for restoration and remediation programme is highly recommended.