Skip to main content
Log in

Metals pollution in freshly deposited sediments from river Mingoa, main tributary to the Municipal lake of Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Published:
Geosciences Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Freshly deposited thirty six surface sediments from river Mingoa, main tributary to the Municipal lake of Yaounde in Cameroon, were sampled to determine the degree, sources and distribution of metals contamination. The concentrations of trace elements were measured by ICP-AES for the samples collected at different stations in January 2005. Generally, the concentration of metals (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Al, Cr, Co, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, Zn, Sr, Ba and Si) in the sediments reflected an anthropogenic inputs. The sediments were characterized by a high amount of organic matter (LOI) with a mean value of 12.44%. Enrichment Factors (EF) and Geoaccumulation Index (I geo ) were calculated and the relative contamination levels were assessed at these sites. With the exception of Ni, the enrichment of toxic metals was high. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis (principal factor method) were used to assist the interpretation of elemental data. This allowed the determination of the correlations between the metals and LOI variability in the sediments, and the identification of four main factors loadings controlling by parent rocks, anthropogenic input, organic compounds and weathering of silicate minerals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acevedo-Figueroa, D., Jiménez, B.D., and Rodríguez-Sierra, C.J., 2006, Trace metals in sediments of two estuarine lagoons from Puerto Rico. Environmental Pollution, 141, 336–342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Audry, S., Schäfer, J., Blanc, G., and Jouanneau, J., 2004, Fifty-year sedimentary record of heavy metal pollution (Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb) in the Lot River reservoirs (France). Environmental Pollution, 132, 413–426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Badran, M.I. and Zibdah, M.K., 2005, Environmental quality of Jordanian coastal surface sediment, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Ambio, 34, 615–620.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berg, H., Kiibus, M., and Kautsky, N., 1995, Heavy metals in tropical lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 83, 237–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biney, C., Calamari, D., Naeve, H., Maembe, T.W., Nyakageni, B., and Saad, M.A.H., 1994, Scientific bases for pollution control. Review of pollution in the African aquatic environment, FAO, 25, 7–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabbri, D., Gabbianelli, G., Locatelli, C., Lubrano, D., Trombini, C., and Vassura, I., 2001, Distribution of Mercury and other heavy metals in core sediments of the Northern Adriatic Sea. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 129, 143–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng, H., Han, X., Zhang, W., and Yu, L., 2004, A preliminary study of heavy metal contamination in Yangtze River intertidal zone due to urbanization. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 49, 910–915.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gangaiya, P., Tabudravu, J., South, R., and Sotheeswaran, S., 2001, Heavy metal contamination of the Lami coastal environment, Fiji. S. Pac. J. Nat. Sci., 19, 24–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaur, V.K., Gupta, S.K., Pandey, S.D., Gopa, L. K., and Misra, V., 2005, Distribution of heavy metals in sediment and water of river Gomti. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 102, 419–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gladyshev, M.I., Gribovskaya, I.V., Ivanova, E.A., Moskvichova, A. V., Muchkina, Ya, E., and Chuprov, S.M., 2001, Metal concentrations in the ecosystem and around recreational and fish-breeding pond Bugach. Water Resources, 28, 288–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glasby, G.P., Szefer, P., Geldon, J., and Warzocha, J., 2004, Heavymetal pollution of sediments from Szczecin Lagoon and the Gdansk basin, Poland. Science of the Total Environment, 330, 249–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jain, C.K., Singhal, D.C., and Sharma, M.K., 2005, Metal pollution assessment of sediment and water in the river Hindon, India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 105, 193–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamau, J.N., 2001, Heavy metals distribution in sediments along the Killindini and Makupa creeks, Kenya. Hydrobiologia, 458, 235–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kraft, C, Tümpling, Jr. W., and Zachmann, D.W., 2006, The effects of mining in Northern Romania on the heavy metal distribution in sediments of the rivers Szamos and Tisza (Hungary). Acta Hydrochim.Hydrobiol., 34, 257–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linnik, P.M. and Zubenko, I.B., 2000, Role of bottom sediments in the secondary pollution of aquatic environments by heavy-metal compounds. Lakes & Reservoirs: Research and Management, 5, 11–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mathew, M., Mohanraj, R., Azeez, P.A., and Pattabhi, S., 2003, Speciation of heavy metals in bed sediments of wetlands in urban Coimbatore, India. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 70, 800–808.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller, G., 1981, Die Schwemetallbelastung der sediments des Nekkars und seiner Nebenflusse: eine Bestandsanfnahme. Chemical Zeitung, 105, 157–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mvondo, H., Den Brok, S.W.J., and Ondoa, M.J., 2003, Evidence for symmetric extension and exhumation of the Yaounde nappe (Pan-African fold belt, Cameroon). Journal of African Earth Sciences, 36, 215–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mwamburi, J., 2003, Variations in trace elements in bottom sediments of major rivers in Lake Victoria’s basin, Kenya. Lakes & Reservoirs: Research and Management, 8, 5–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nasr, S.M., Okbah, M.A., and Kasem, S.M., 2006, Environmental assessment of heavy metal pollution in bottom sediments of Aden Port, Yemen. International Journal of Oceans and Oceanography, 1, 99–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nemr, A.E., Khaled, A., and Sikaily, A.E., 2006, Distribution and statistical analysis of leachable and total heavy metals in the sediments of the Suez Gulf. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 118, 89–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nzenti, J.P., Barbey, P., Jegouzo, P., and Moreau, C., 1984, Un nouvel exemple de ceinture granulitique dans une chaîne protérozoïque de collision: les migmatites de yaoundé au Cameroon. C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, 299, 1197–1199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Panda, U.C., Rath, P., Sahu, K.C., Majumdar, S., and Sundaray, S. K., 2006, Study of geochemical association of some trace metals in the sediments of Chilika lake: A multivariate statistical approach. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 123, 125–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qu, W., Dickman, M., and Wang, S., 2001, Multivariate analysis of heavy metal and nutrient concentrations in sediments of Taihu Lake, China. Hydrobiologia, 450, 83–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranjbar, A.G.H., 1998, Heavy metal concentration in surficial sediments from Anzali wetland, Iran. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 104, 305–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ravanelli, M., Tubertini, O., Valcher, S., and Martinotti, W., 1997, Heavy metal distribution in sediment cores from western Ross Sea (Antarctica). Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 99, 697–704.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saad, M.A.H., Amuzu, A.T., Biney, C., Calamari, D., Imevbore, A.M., Naeve, H., and Ochumba, P.B.O., 1994, Domestic and industrial organic loads. Review of pollution in the African aquatic environment, FAO, 25, 23–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sekhar, C.K., Chary, N.S., Kamala, C.T., Raj, D.S., and Rao, S.A., 2003, Fractionation studies and bioaccumulation of sedimentbound heavy metals in Kolleru lake by edible fish. Environment International, 29, 1001–1008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shriadah, M.M.A., 1999, Heavy metals in mangrove sediments of the United Arab Emirates shoreline (Arabian Gulf). Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 116, 523–534.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shrivastava, P., Saxena, A., and Swarup, A., 2003, Heavy metal pollution in a sewage-fed lake of Bhopal, (M.P.) India. Lakes & Reservoirs: Research and Management, 8, 1–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, M., Müller, G., and Singh, I.B., 2002, Heavy metals in freshly deposited stream sediments of rivers associated with urbanization of the Ganga plain, India. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 141, 35–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, V.K., Singh, K.P., and Mohan, D. 2005, Status of heavy metals in water and bed sediments of river Gomti — A tributary of the Ganga river, India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 105, 43–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skjelkvåle, B.L., Andersen, T., Fjeld, E., Mannio, J., Wilander, A., Johansson, K., Jensen, J.P., and Moiseenko, T., 2001, Heavy metal surveys in Nordic lakes; concentrations, geographic patterns and relation to critical limits. Ambio, 30, 2–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szarek-Gwiazda, E., Galas, J., Wróbel, A., and Ollik, M., 2006, Surface sediment composition in an inundated opencast sulphur mine (Piaseczno reservoir, Southern Poland). Aquatic Ecology, 40, 155–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taher, A.G., 2001, Geochemistry of recent marine sediments in the Bardawil lagoon, northern Sinai, Egypt. Hydrobiologia, 457, 15–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tahri, M., Benyaïch, F., Bounakhla, M., Bilal, E., Gruffat, J., Moutte, J., and Garcia, D., 2005, Multivariate analysis of heavy metal contents in soils, sediments and water in the region of Meknes (Central Morocco). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 102, 405–417.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tam, N.F.Y. and Wong, Y.S., 2000, Spatial variation of heavy metals in surface sediments of Hong Kong mangrove swamps. Environmental Pollution, 110, 195–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turekian, K.K. and Wedepohl, K.H., 1961, Distribution of the elements in some major units of the earth’s crust. Am. Geol. Soc. Bull., 72, 175–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valdés, J., Vargas, G., Sifeddine, A., Ortlieb, L., and Guiñez, M., 2005, Distribution and enrichment evaluation of heavy metals in Mejillones bay (23°S), Northern Chile: Geochemical and statistical approach. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 50, 1558–1568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veen, A., Ahlers, C., Zachmann, D.W., and Friese, K., 2006, Spatial distribution and bonding forms of heavy metals in sediments along the middle course of the River Elbe. Actahydrochim. Hydrobiol., 34, 214–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villaescusa-Celaya, J.A., Gutiérrez-Galindo, E.A., and Flores-Muñoz, G., 2000, Heavy metals in the fine fraction of coastal sediments from Baja California (Mexico) and California (USA). Environmental Pollution, 108, 453–462.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Myung Chae Jung.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Léopold, E.N., Jung, M.C., Auguste, O. et al. Metals pollution in freshly deposited sediments from river Mingoa, main tributary to the Municipal lake of Yaounde, Cameroon. Geosci J 12, 337–347 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-008-0034-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-008-0034-5

Key words

Navigation