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How sawmill wastes impact surface water, sediment, macrobenthic invertebrates, and fish: a case study of the Lagos lagoon, Okobaba Area, South-western Nigeria

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Abstract

The Okobaba area of the Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria, is characterised by sawmilling activities which are potential threats to resident aquatic organisms. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of sawmilling activities on the environmental quality of the Lagos lagoon at Okobaba area, Lagos, Nigeria. Surface water, sediment, macrobenthic invertebrates, and fish species were sampled monthly from six stations for 3 months (July–September 2018). Relevant stakeholders were administered a cross-sectional questionnaire to determine their knowledge of the environmental effects of their activities. Environmental samples were analysed following standard methods. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using SPSS 20.0 and PAST 1.97. Results showed that surface water dissolved oxygen and chemical oxygen demand were significantly lower, while sediment total organic matter and nitrates were significantly higher at the test site compared to the reference site. A total of 389 macrobenthic invertebrates comprising eight species and two macrobenthic invertebrates comprising one species as well as 121 fishes comprising nine species and 70 fishes comprising nine (9) species were recorded at the reference and test sites respectively. About 46.3% of respondents alluded to improper waste disposal as the major cause of pollution at the test site among others, 66.7% responded that wastes were disposed of by burning among other disposal methods, and 66.6% agreed that the sawmilling activities contributed to reduction of aquatic animal population. We recommend urgent regulatory intervention to address the indiscriminate discharge of wastes and facilitate adequate environmental risk advocacy to sustain life below water (United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14).

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, for providing the laboratory space, equipment, and instruments utilised for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Science Laboratory Technology School of Science , Yaba College of Technology , Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria

    Olamide Elizabeth Faremi

  2. Ecotoxicology and Conservation Unit, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria

    Temitope Olawunmi Sogbanmu

  3. Environmental Evidence Synthesis and Knowledge Translation (EESKT) Research Cluster, TETFund Centre of Excellence on Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Management, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria

    Temitope Olawunmi Sogbanmu

  4. Fish and Wildlife Unit, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

    Olanike Kudirat Adeyemo

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  1. Olamide Elizabeth Faremi
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  2. Temitope Olawunmi Sogbanmu
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  3. Olanike Kudirat Adeyemo
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Correspondence to Temitope Olawunmi Sogbanmu.

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Faremi, O.E., Sogbanmu, T.O. & Adeyemo, O.K. How sawmill wastes impact surface water, sediment, macrobenthic invertebrates, and fish: a case study of the Lagos lagoon, Okobaba Area, South-western Nigeria. Environ Monit Assess 193, 235 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09006-0

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