IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL PROCESSES (IJCCP )

E-I SSN 2545-5265
P- ISSN 2695-1916
VOL. 10 NO. 3 2024
DOI: 10.56201/ijccp.v10.no3.2024.pg19.28

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Spatio-Temporal Concentrations of Toxic Metals in Microplastics of River Sediments, South-South, Nigeria

Isaac U. Isaac and Jack D. Nwineewii

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Abstract

The accumulation of toxic metals on microplastics in river sediments poses significant risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health. In this study, heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Hg) were detected in partial acid digests of microplastic in sediment (MCPS) in the study sites using the GBC 908PBMT model Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS). The spatial distribution of metals in MCPS investigated at Woji, Okujagu and Elelenwo rivers and statistically tested by a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) biplot was employed for describing the study locations, possible associations with metals in sediments (MCPS) and study sites using PAST Statistics 1.32. The results showed that the mean concentration of Cd was higher in dry season than in wet season, and Pb was reasonably present during dry season across the sites. Moreover, Cu and Ni were found to be from a common source in the wet and dry seasons. It is recommended that periodic but consistent monitoring of the water bodies in the study area should be conducted in order to ascertain present state of the water and subsequent ameliorative measures taken to arrest potential health and ecological risk.

keywords:

microplastics, toxic metals, sediments, periodic monitoring

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