Browsing by Author "Agbonikhena, Asuenime Nasiru"

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    Assessment of water quality of the Ogu Creek impacted by seaport activities in Onne, near Port Harcourt, Rivers State
    (Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2015-12) Agbonikhena, Asuenime Nasiru
    The physicochemical parameters of the Ogu Creek serving the Onne Port of the Nigerian Ports Authority in Port Harcourt, which is impacted by Port transport activities were investigated in September 2011 at 6 sampling points. In situ measurements were made for water temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, and conductivity using HORIBA U-10 Water Quality Checker and for total dissolved solids (TDS) with HACH conductivity/TDS meter. Other parameters were determined using standard methods of APHA. Water samples were collected in replicates with 2 litres plastic containers and transferred to the laboratory in iced-coolers for analysis. The test of homogeneity in mean variance was used to determine spatial variation in the physicochemical variables, and the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) used to explore the interrelationship existing between the parameters. Mean parameters were observed as follows: temperature 28.25 ± 0.12 °C, pH 6.02 ± 0.20, salinity 36.32 ± 0.12 ‰, DO 3.38 ± 0.14 mg/L, BOD 1.74 ± 0.21 mg/L, TSS 25.05 ± 2.45 mg/L, TDS 53.60 ± 5.75 mg/L, turbidity 81.23 ± 5.22 NTU, alkalinity 17.92 ± 1.61 mg/L, conductivity 1815.00 ± 238.24 µS/cm, total petroleum hydrocarbons 2.10 ± 0.15 mg/L, NO3-3.62 ± 0.36 mg/L, PO42-2.59 ± 0.38 mg/L, SO4 2-78.07 ±8.70 mg/L, Cl95.55 ± 16.66 mg/L, Al 0.95 ± 0.08 mg/L, Cd 0.022 ± 0.011 mg/L, Cr 0.05 ± 0.01mg/L, Cu 0.08 ± 0.01 mg/L, Fe 2.67 ± 0.38 mg/L and Pb 0.030 ± 0.009 mg/L. The lower ranges of pH, the upper ranges of Al and Fe, and Cd and Cu levels were outside permissible limits of the Federal Ministry of Environment for aquatic life. The control sampling location recorded highest concentrations in several of the variables, even as there was marked spatial heterogeneity [F(8.41)