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Characteristic levels of heavy metals in sediments and dredged sediments of a municipal creek in the Niger delta, Nigeria

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Abstract

Characteristic levels of metal ions in post dredged sediment and dredged sediments materials of a municipal creek in the Niger Delta show that significant concentrations of heavy metals are found to be accumulated more on the surface (0–15cm depth) of the dredged material as compared to the sub surface (15–30cm) and post dredged sediments. The distribution patterns were in the following order Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd and Fe > Mn > Zn > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cd for the post dredged sediment and dredged sediment materials respectively. The levels of the various metals were far below the EPA screening levels for open water disposal, consequently total levels of heavy metal found in these sediments pose no problem by open-water or upland disposal

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Delta State University, P.M.B 1, Abraka

    Chukwuji M. A. Iwegbue & G. E. Nwajei

  2. Institute of pollution studies, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

    N. O. Isirimah

Authors
  1. Chukwuji M. A. Iwegbue
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  2. G. E. Nwajei
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  3. N. O. Isirimah
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Correspondence to Chukwuji M. A. Iwegbue.

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Iwegbue, C.M.A., Nwajei, G.E. & Isirimah, N.O. Characteristic levels of heavy metals in sediments and dredged sediments of a municipal creek in the Niger delta, Nigeria. Environmentalist 26, 129–133 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-006-7483-z

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