Trace Metals Correlation Trends between Water – Fish and Sediment - Fish in Qua Iboe River, Oruk Anam, Nigeria

Abstract

Environment and its components is an aspect in environmental management that attracts greater  attention of researches as it relates to human life. Components of environment refer to the biotic and the abiotic components including their kinds, levels, interactions among them leading to the state of the environment in unpolluted, environment, contaminants levels are within background levels but in a polluted environment, contaminants exist in elevated levels. In this research, trace metals (Cadmiun, Chromium, Nickel, Copper, Vanadium, Lead, and Tin) in water, fish and sediment samples from Qua Iboe River, Oruk Anam, Nigeria were determined using atomic absorption spectrometer. The results revealed variable levels of the investigated parameters in the samples. There was significant positive correlation between the studied trace metals in water, fish and sediment in both seasons. Correlation of the trace metals between water and fish as well as sediment and fish also revealed positive correlation in both wet and dry seasons. Between water and fish, significant positive relationship exist between Cadmium in water and that in fish (r =.957, P< 0.01), Chromium in water and that in fish (r =.997, P<0.01) and between sediment and fish, positive correlation exist between Cadmium in sediment and that in fish (r =.971, P<0.01), Chromium in sediment and that in fish (r =.988, P, 0.01) and so on. It could be concluded therefore that all the trace metals studied showed positive correlation within and between samples analysed. From the results, routine monitoring of the trace metals in the studied river is strongly advocated for sustainability of the ecosystem for use by the present without compromising the standard for future generations.