spatial variation in physico-chemical parameters of eastern obolo estuary, niger delta, nigeria

Journal of Environment and Earth Science www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3216 !a"er# ISSN 222$-%&4' (nline# )ol. 3* No.12* 2%13 163 Spatial Variation in Physico-Chemical Parameters of Eastern Obolo Estuary, Niger Delta, Nigeria James !. +doh 1 , John E. +"atu 1 and niean J. (toh 2 1. /e"artment of /e"artment of 0isheries and uatic Environmental anagement* +niversit of +o* +o- $2%%1* Nigeria. 2. /e"artment of nimal Science* wa Iom State +niversit* (io "a 5am"us* (ru nam* wa Iom State* Nigeria. , E-mail of the corres"onding author 77 ames"hili"8gmail.com Abstract s"ects of the "hsicochemical "arameters of Eastern (olo estuar* Eastern (olo* were investigated for three months at five locations (oromoho* Io* madaa* Emereoe and (ianga. ean concentrations of some of the measured "arameters at the five sam"ling locations showed significant statistical differences Nicel 0 9 1'.4'* df 2*': !;%.%%1#* !otassium 0 9 4.4<* df 2*': !;%.%$#* =otal dissolved solids 0 9 32.26* df 4*': !;%.%%1#* "> 0 9 21.$$* df 4*&: !;%.%%1#* Salinit 0 9 <3.1$: df 4*': !;%.%%1#* /issolved (?gen 0 9 $.%6* df 2*': !;%.%$#* =em"erature 0 9 1%.&6* df 2.': !;%.%1#* and 5onductivit 0 9 <1.&4* df 4*': !;%.%1#. ean differences of other "arameters were not statisticall significant. =he variailit of the concentrations of the "arameters during the "eriod of st ud was lowest for dissolved o?gen 2.2@# and highest for hardness 6'.4@#. =he availailit of nicel in these waters indicated crude oil "ollution. =he mean values of nicel* "otassium* total dissolved solids* sodium* co""er* Ainc* total hdrocarons and iochemical o?gen demand from all stations e?ceeded the recommended limits for auatic life or "otale water. >ence* the Eastern (olo estuar ma not e an efficient source of drining water for the communit ut it definitel hel"s flush out anthro"ogenic "ollutants into the sea. Keyor!s" estuarine flushing* nicel* "otassium* total dissolved so lids* sodium* co""er* Ainc* total hdrocarons #$ %ntro!uction" =he ualit of auatic ionetwors is vital for the "roductivit* survival and su""ort of auatic organisms found in them. It is an inde? of health and well eing of the ecosstem and has direct im"act on human health. !hsicochemical "arameters of water "rovide nutritional alance and ultimatel govern the iotic relationshi"s of organisms in an auatic ecosstem: including ailit to withstand "ollution load. IndustrialiAation* uraniAation and modern agriculture "ractices directl im"act the water resources uantitativel and ualitativel. an industries are sited near these odies of water "resumal to facilitate eas discharge of effluents and other "ollutants into them. t"ical e?am"le* is the siting of several flow stations on the territorial waters of the Eastern (olo with its attendant and often incessant oil s"illages* gas flares which eventuall leads to acid rains +doessien 2%%3# e?"erienced in the area. ost of the studies conducted on the monitoring and assessment of river and estuarine water ualit in the South-south Nigeria are within the lower and u""er 5ross Biver estuar Cowenerg D unAel 1&&2: Ewu D Sioi 2%%6#* 5alaar Biver suuo 1&&&#* and a few in the Fonn estuar /uin-Green 1&&%#* New 5alaar Biver Eeh D Sioi 2%%3# and Noro Biver owei 2%1%# in the Niger /elta region. (ther studies conducted include those of Cagos Cagoon oola D uton 2%%&# and =arwa Fa Edo"ai et al. 2%1%#* in western Nigeria. Eastern (olo estuar is a uniue auatic environment in the tro"ical elt with mared maritime influence due to riverine inflow* vertical mi?ing* coastal nutrient enrichment* oil "ollution and other anthro"ogenic sources. It is also one of the ecologicall and economicall rich marine ecosstems in the Niger /elta region of Nigeria "roviding reeding grounds for a variet of fish and shrim" s"ecies. Numerous activities such as oil e?"loitation and e?"loration* laundr* fuel wood e?"loitation and ca"ture fisheries tae "lace along the estuarHwatershed. Small concentrations of anions and cations of heav metals are continuousl "resent in the drining water* which could conseuentl "ose health ris to the communities. =his stud sees to "rovide asic information and to enrich the scientific nowledge of the coastal ecosstem of Nigeria with "articular reference Eastern (olo estuar and other similar water odies where little or no information is availale for its effective management and sustainailit: and to "revent further degradation of the area. &$ 'aterials an! 'etho!s =his stud was carried out in a stretch of the Eastern (olo estuar* located 4 o 33N - 4 o $% N: < o 4$E - < o $$E# aout 6$%m aove sea leve l in the tro"ical mangrove forest elt east of th e Niger /elta etween the lower Imo

spatial variation in physico-chemical parameters of eastern obolo estuary, niger delta, nigeria

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