Abstract
Fifty sediment samples were collected from Osun (urban) and Erinle (suburban) rivers in addition to ten samples of the underlying rock types (schist and gneiss) and analyzed for elemental constituents while speciation of metals was determined by sequential analysis. Data were geochemically evaluated and ArcGIS was used to generate geochemical maps. Metal concentrations (ppm) in sub-urban and urban areas were Cd (0.2–0.2, 0.2–1.1), Cu (37.0–272.0, 49.0–970.0), Ni (6.0–27.0, 3.0–43.0), Pb (16.0–67.0, 15.0–2650.0), Zn (32.0–170.0, 50.0–987.0), Co (8.0–60.0, 2.0–86.0), Cr (26.0–153.0, 9.0–128.0), V (30.0–142.0, 9.0–135.0), and Mn (442.0–5100.0, 107.0–3930.0), respectively. In the rocks, Cu, Ni, Pb, Co, Cr, V, and Zn, concentrations (ppm) were below detection limit (BDL)-0.05, BDL-38.00; 6.23–12.00, BDL-20.00; 3.78–6.23, BDL-5.00; BDL-0.20, BDL-4.00; 5.00–9.00, BDL-66.00; 15.99–32.00, BDL-130.00; and 18.00–26.00, BDL-48.00, respectively, with Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Mn of elevated concentrations in sediments compared with that of the rocks, being indication of additional anthropogenic sourcing. Calculated contamination indices revealed contamination for sediment from the urban areas compared to those from the sub-urban. High percentage of Pb (2.94–81.92%), Cu (31.69–45.95%), Zn (49.2–65.5%), Cd (31.69–45.95%), and Mn (12.13–37.50%) are hosted by the bio-available phases (carbonate, organic, and sulfide). The geochemical distribution of metals in the sediments of the Osun and Erinle rivers is governed by both geogenic (Ni-Cr-Co-V) and anthropogenic (Pb-Cd-Zn) activities. Elevated concentration and occurrences of the selected metals in the bio-available phases pose potential health risk to people in the urban area.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Buat-Menard P, Chesselet R (1979) Variable influence of atmospheric flux on the trace metal chemistry of oceanic suspended matter. Earth Planet Sci Lett 42:398–411. doi:10.1016/0012-821X(79)90049-9
Chon HT, Kim KW, Kim JY (1995) Environ Geochem Health 17:139. doi:10.1007/BF00126082
Durn G, Ottner F, Slovenec D (1999) Mineralogy and geochemical indicators of the polygenetic nature of Terra Rosa in Istria, Croatia. Geoderma 91:125–150. doi:10.1016/S0016-7061(98)00130-X
Fakayode SO, Olu-Owolabi BI (2003) Heavy metal contamination of roadside topsoil in Osogbo, Nigeria: its relationship to traffic density and proximity to highways. Environ Geol 44:150–157
Hakanson L (1980) An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control: a sedimentological approach. Water Res 14:975–1001. doi:10.1016/0043-1354(80)90143-8
Karbassi AR, Amirnezhad R (2004) Int J Environ Sci Technol 1:191. doi:10.1007/BF03325832
Lee SV, Cundy AB (2001) Heavy metal contamination and mixing processes in sediments from the Humber estuary, Eastern England. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 53:619–636
Loska K, Wiechula D, Korus I (2004) Metal contamination of farming soils affected by industry. Environ Int 30:159–165
Muller G (1979) Schwermetalle in den Sedimenten des Rheins- Verenderungen Seit 1979. Umschau 79:778–783
Muller G (1981) Index of geo-accumulation in sediments of the Rhine River. GeoJournal 2:108–118
Nishida H, Miyai M, Tada F, Suzuki S (1982) Computation of the index of pollution caused by heavy metals in river sediments. Environ Pollut B 4:241–248
Sutherland RA (2000) Bed sediment-associated trace metal in an urban stream, Ohau, Hawaii. Environ Geol 39:611–627
Turekian KK, Wedepohl LH (1964) Distribution of the elements in major units of the earth’s crust. Bull Geol Soc Am 72:175–191
Windom H, Schropp S, Calder F, Smith RJR, Burney L, Lewis F, Rawilson C (1989) Natural trace metal concentration in estuarine and coastal marine elements of the southern US. Environ Sci Technol 23(3):314–320
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Okunola, O.W., Olatunji, A.S. Geochemical assessment and speciation of metals in sediments of Osun and Erinle Rivers, Southwestern Nigeria. Arab J Geosci 10, 366 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-017-3110-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-017-3110-1