Metal contamination of surface water, sediment and Tympanotonus fuscatus var. radula of lko River and environmental impact due to Utapete gas flare station, Nigeria

Inter-seasonal studies on the trace metal load of surface water.sediment and Tympanotonus fuscatus var. radula of lko River were conducted between 2003 and 2004. The impact of authropogenic activities especially industrial effluent. petroleum related wastes. gas flare and episodic oil spills on the-ecosys1em are remarkable. Trace metals analyzed included cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr). copper (Cu). iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn). nickel (Ni). vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn). Sediment particle size analysis revealed that 1hey were characteristically psammitic and were predominantly of medium to fine grained sand (>73%). less of silt (<15%) and clay (<10%). These results correlated with low levels of trace elements such as Pb (0.03 ± 0.02 mg kg-'). Cr (0.22 ± 0.12 mg kg- 1), Cd(0.05 ± 0.03 mg kg- 1), Cu (0.04 ± O.Q2 mg kg- 1) and Mn (0.23 ± 0.22 mg kg- 1) in 1he sediment samples. This observation is consistent with the Scarcity of clayey materials known to be good scavengers for me1allic and organic contaminants. Sediments indicated enhanced concentration of Fe, Ni and V, while other metal levels were relatively low. The concentrations of all the metals except Pb in surface water were within the permissible levels,suggesting that the petroleum contaminants had minimal effect on the state of pollution by trace metals in lko River. No1ably, the pollutant concentrations in the sediments were markedly higher than the corresponding concentrations in surface water and T. fuscatus tissues, and decreased distance from point sources of pollution

Trace Metals Levels in Inorganic Fertilizers Commercially Available in Nigeria

Aims: To investigate the concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn) in commercially available inorganic fertilizers (calcium superphosphate and urea). Place and Duration of Study: Urea and superphosphate fertilizers were purchased from a local market in Uyo, Southern Nigeria. Methodology: A total of twenty seven fertilizer samples were randomly taken representing triplicate samples from three urea and six superphosphate original fertilizer bags. Each sample were digested and extracted using the ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) extraction technique. The elemental analysis was performed using an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer (ICP-AES) (Optima 3000 – Perkin Elmer). Results: The analyses indicated the presence of trace metals in commercially available fertilizers sold in Nigeria. Cadmium was found in comparatively high concentrations. Zinc was found present in relatively high concentrations in both urea and phosphate fertilizer samples but As was found in low concentration. By comparison, the superphosphat

Surface Mixed Layer Profile of Physical and Biogeochemical Variables in the Subpolar North-West and -East Atlantic Ocean: A Data-Model Comparison Study

This paper presents a study of physical and biogeochemical variables using numerical model and mixed layer oceanographic data from a 2 - 3 year in situ measurements in the Northwestern and Northeastern sites of the Atlantic Ocean. Model outputs are presented and indicated that very good estimates may be obtained. The outputs showed considerable agreement in reproducing seasonal distributions of pCO2, pCO2-T, pCO2-nonT, mixed layer temperature, and chlorophyll-a in both winter and summer, and therefore provide useful physical and theoretical understanding of their biogeochemistry. The model pCO2 indicated a distinct temporal variability with seasonal changes coinciding with the change in sea surface temperature. It also provides an agreement that there is a strong seasonal cycle of mixed layer parameters filliped by nonthermal and physical factors. As an outgrowth of this work, the pCO2 model outputs affirm the North Atlantic Ocean capacity as an important oceanographic sink for anthropogenic carbon dioxid

Hydrochemical study of shallow ground water in Ikot Abasi Coastal Aquifer

Communication in Physical Sciences, 2021, 7(3):218-228 Authors: Usoro M. Etesin and Iniemem J. Inim  Received 14 April 2021/Accepted 27 September 2021 A hydrochemical study of shallow groundwater in Ikot Abasi coastal aquifer, Niger Delta, Nigeria, was undertaken, to assess the impact of incidences of oil bunkering, crude oil refining activities, burning of natural gas for power generation and aluminum smelting activities. Six groundwater samples were collected from existing boreholes at different stations, for dry and wet seasons respectively. The water samples were analyzed for temperature, pH, cations (Ca2+, Na+, K+ and Mg2+) , anions (chloride, sulphate, nitrate and  bicarbonate ),  total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, alkalinity and total hardness , bicarbonate (HCO3-) and alkalinity, using standard analytical procedures by American Public Health Association. To establish the water types in the study area, the test results acquired for exchangeable cations and nutrients were subjected to Piper Plot, Durov Plot, and Gandha Plot for two seasons.  The Piper Plot developed from experimental data revealed that water facies in Ikot Abasi aquifer are confined to only two types, with the majority of the samples having 67 percent plotted in the Ca-Mg-Cl water type, while 23 percent of the samples showed Na –Cl water type, which suggests freshness of the water with minor contribution from saline contribution. However, the Chandha plot for the groundwater indicated that within the study area 66.6 percent of the samples plot are within subfields-5, representing Ca2+ - Mg2+ - HCO3-  water type, while 33 percent were of the samples plot within subfield -4, which is an indication of the presence of a significant concentration of acidic ions over weak anions, signifying strong acidic anions in the water exceeding weak acidic anions. Also, the observed pattern for the results of the Durov plot reveals that 66 percent of the samples plot are in the reverse ion exchange zone and therefore suggest the occurrence of inverse /reverse ion exchange process occurring, due to due the direct exchange of calcium ion and magnesium ions from the aquifer matrix in addition to sodium and potassium ions from the groundwater. While 33 percent of samples plot along the dissolution or mixing line. Based on the Lloyd and Heathcoat classification, the result can be aligned to recent fresh recharged of the water characterized by simple dissolution or mixing without the domination of major ions, and can be attributed to fresh recent recharged water exhibiting simple dissolution or mixing with no dominant major anions and cations. In spite of the shallow depth of the aquifer in the study area, there is no observed contamination of the water. Although the aquifer in Ikot Abasi has shallow depths of between 1.8m to 8.4 m, the concentrations of lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, zinc, and manganese are below the permissible limits of 0.05 mg/L, except iron content which has values above the permissible limit of 0.3 mg/l. The waters have mean salinity of 0.01 %, indicating no saltwater intrusion even though the study area is coastal. The calculated mean pollution index also suggests the absence of contamination from anthropogenic activities. The distribution of major anions, cations, and occurrence of different hydrochemical facies suggest that the composition of the groundwater is significantly influenced by water-rock interactions

Cadmium, Copper, Lead and Zinc Tissue Levels in Bonga Shad (Ethmalosafimbriata) and Tilapia (Tilapia guineensis) Caught from Imo River, Nigeria

An investigation of the muscle-liver tissue concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in two commercially important fish species (EthmalosafimbriataBonga shad and Til apia guineensis-Tilapia) caught from three stations within Irno River was carried out in 2004. Heavy metal contents varied significantly (p>0.05) depending on the fish species and on the type of tissues. The concentrations of the essential elements (Zn, Cu) were relatively higher in the muscle and liver tissues than the non-essential metals (Pb, Cd). The trends in tissue elemental concentrations in both species of fish was Zn>Cu>Pb>Cd. Heavy metal levels in liver tissues of both fish species were comparatively higher than levels obtained from muscle tissue. In general, T. guineensis showed higher levels of metal concentrations thanE. fimbriata. The concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn in both fish species were within tolerance limits that are safe for human consumption

Ecological and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Sediments, Surface Waters and Oysters (Crassostrea Gasar) from Eastern Obolo Marine Ecosystems, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Communication in Physical Sciences, 2023, 9(4): 545-571 Authors: Ufikairom G. Isotuk1, Usoro M. Etesin1*, Edet W. Nsi1, and Emmanuel J. Ukpong1 Received: 11 July 2023/Accepted 29 August 2023 The contamination of the environment by heavy metals is significant because of the non-biodegradable and persistent nature of these sets of metals. Reports on the contamination of water by heavy metals can be regarded as uncertain if the levels of these metals in sediment are not taken into consideration. Sediments, surface waters and oysters (Crassostrea gasar) from the Atlantic coastline, Iko river, Obolo river, Amadaka river and Emeremen river were analyzed for the levels of the concentrations of Co, Tl, Th, U, Se, Tl and Ag using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy method. Seasonal and spatial distribution of the metals were determined as the bases for ecological and health risk assessment of the environment. The distribution of the analyzed metals in the sediment followed the following order ((mg/kg dw) Th (38.05) &gt; U (22.70) &gt; As (11.06) &gt; Tl (0.56) &gt; Se (0.45) &gt; Co and Ag (below detection limit). In the oysters were Th (46.67) &gt; U (9.20) &gt; As (7.11) &gt; Se (5.05) &gt; Tl (0.63) &gt; Co and Ag (below detection limits). The water had far lower concentrations of the metals (0.01 – 0.19 mg/l). The results obtained indicate no statistically significant variation between the seasonal sediment data sets at P ≤ 0.05.&nbsp; A strong correlation (0.50 – 0.99) between the metals was revealed indicating a common source (mainly anthropogenic) for the metals. Of the five study sites, only the Atlantic coastline and Iko River were contaminated by some of the metals studied; Se, Th, U, As, and Tl, with Iko River found to be more polluted. Co and Ag were below the detection limit in all the study sites in sediments, water, and oysters in both seasons. All the metals were below the detection limit along Obolo River, Amadaka River, and EmeremeEastern River during both seasons, thus indicating the sites were relatively uncontaminated by the heavy metals studied. The metal contamination status was significantly bio-indicated by the oysters at all the study sites in both seasons. The ecological risk indices revealed no contamination status for Obolo River, Amadaka River, and Emeremen River, but low to moderate pollution status for the Atlantic coastline and Iko River, especially for As, Th, and U. Based on bioconcentration data of the oysters, the health risk indices (daily intake of metal, health index, target hazard quotient, and total target hazard quotient, etc) have revealed that As in the oysters from Iko river and the Atlantic coastline of Eastern Obolo may pose a significant health risk to consumers. Adequate regulation and remediation of the ecosystems to safeguard ecological and human health is therefore recommended

62-69 and Lead Distribution in the Outcrop Rocks of Abakaliki Anticlinorium in the Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria

Abstract This study investigates the distribution of cadmium and lead concentrations in the outcrop rock samples collected from Abakaliki anticlinorium in the Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria. The outcrop rock samples from seven sampling locations were air-dried for seventy-two hours, homogenized by grinding and pass through &lt; 63 micron mesh sieve. The ground and homogenized rock samples were pulverized and analyzed for cadmium and lead using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer. The concentrations of heavy metals in the outcrop rock samples ranged from &lt; 0.10 -7.95 mg kg -1 for cadmium (Cd) and &lt; 1.00 -4966.00 mg kg -1 for lead (Pb). Apart from an anomalous concentration measured in Afikpo Shale (Middle Segment), the results obtained revealed that rock samples from all the sampling locations yielded cadmium concentrations of &lt; 0.10 mg kg -1 and the measured concentrations were below the average crustal abundance of 0.50 mg kg . The results obtained reveal important contributions towards understanding of heavy metal distribution patterns and provide baseline data that can be used for potential identification of areas at risk associated with natural sources of heavy metals contamination in the region. The use of outcrop rocks provides a cost-effective approach for monitoring regional heavy metal contamination associated with dissolution and/or weathering of rocks or parent materials. Evaluation of heavy metals may be effectively used in large scale regional pollution monitoring of soil, groundwater, atmospheric and marine environment. Therefore, monitoring of heavy metal concentrations in soils, groundwater and atmospheric environment is imperative in order to prevent bioaccumulation in various ecological receptors

GCMS and FTIR Spectroscopy Characterization of Luffa Cylindrica Seed Oil and Biodiesel Produced from the oil

Communication in Physical Sciences 2020, 5(3): 378-390 Authors: Godwin J. Udo, Usoro M. Etesin, Joachim J. Awaka-Ama, Aniedi E. Nyong, Emaime J. Uwanta Received 25 April 2020/Accepted 04 July 2020 The need for replacement of fossil fuel with more efficient fuels that are eco-friendly and renewable (biodiesel) was the basis for the present study. Luffa cylindrica seed oil (LCSO) was extracted through solvent extraction using petroleum ether as a solvent between 60 and 80 C The produced oil was used for the production of biodiesel (LCBD) via two-stage transesterification. The percentage yield of the extracted oil and biodiesel were 17.3 and 18.8 % respectively. The physico-chemical properties were within ASTM recommended values, indicating a quality fuel production. GC-MS chromatograms of LCSO and LCBD indicated the presence of acridine,9-anilino acid, 11-octadecanoic acid, (methyl ester), methyl stearate and benz (a) anthracene, 6,7,12-trimethyl, 15-octadecanoic acid, methyl ester, methyl stearate, eicosanoic acid, serine methyl ester, and N-[2-oxo-4-phenylbutyryl]. Also, IR spectroscopy analyses of LCSO and LCBD revealed the presence of O-H, C-H, C=O, O-C, =C-H and C-N in LCSO and N-H, O-H, C-H, C=O, C-O, C-N, =C-H stretches in LCBD. The study drew results and findings and concluded that Luffa cylindricaseed oil is an excellent feed stock for the production of biodiesel.&nbsp