Pollution Status and Physicochemical Assessment of Woji River in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Alumona; Onyekachi L.; Onojake; Mudiaga C.

doi:10.56201/ijgem.vol.12.no7.2026.pg117.126

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Pollution Status and Physicochemical Assessment of Woji River in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Alumona, Onyekachi L., a, and Onojake, Mudiaga C., a,b

Abstract

Surface water samples from five stations in the Woji River, Port Harcourt, were analyzed for physicochemical characteristics, heavy metal concentrations, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon levels using standard analytical methods. The results show a pH rage 4.0 to 4.8 mg/L, Temperature 27.50 to 28.50 oC, Electrical Conductivity 210.10 to 2,817.00 μS/MS, Salinity 3.50 to 5.10%, Alkalinity 350.00 to 403.00 mg/L, Chloride 385.8 to 458.00 mg/L, Nitrate 2.50 to 3.10 mg/L, Phosphate 0.70 to 0.90 mg/L, Total Organic Matter 18.50 to 26.00%, Total Carbon 10.70 to 15.00% and Hardness 250.10 to 320.30 mg/L. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine the levels of heavy metals (K, Ni, Cu, Cd, Fe, Pb, Cr, Co, V) present in the water sample, and the PAH concentration was also analyzed across the stations. The results were compared with the WHO and USEPA permissible limits for water quality standards. It was deduced that the Woji River has a low pH, low phosphate ions, high hardness, and high chloride ions. The concentrations of heavy metals such as Cd and Co were also higher than the USEPA permissible limit. The result of the Metal Pollution Index clearly indicates that the pollution status of the Woji River is low. However, the River requires continuous monitoring to mitigate potential health risks posed by these heavy metals to water, users, and the fisheries in this river.

Keywords

PollutionWater qualityHeavy metalsAnthropogenicWoji River.

References

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Pollution Status and Physicochemical Assessment of Woji River in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Keywords

References

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