Baseline Concentration and Sources of Trace Elements in Groundwater of Cross River State, Nigeria

Aniekan Edet; Aniediobong Ukpong; Therese Nganje

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11

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Baseline Concentration and Sources of Trace Elements in Groundwater of Cross River State, Nigeria

Aniekan Edet, Aniediobong Ukpong, Therese Nganje

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 2, Issue 1)

Received: 5 November 2013 Published: 20 December 2013

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Abstract

Groundwater samples were collected from wells in Cross River State (Nigeria) and analysed for trace elements including Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr and Zn. The primary aim of the study was to determine the baseline concentrations of these metals, while the secondary aim was to assess the present level of pollution, as a basis for future impact of human and industrial activities on the groundwater quality. Multivariate statistical methods were applied to determine the relationships between the different trace elements and also infer their different sources. The results showed that the contents of Ba, Fe, and Pb in groundwater from some locations were higher than the World Health Organisation, WHO maximum admissible concentration (MAC) of 700µg/l, 300µg/l and 100µg/l respectively. The contents of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb and Zn were lower than the concentrations in freshwater, while the contents of Ba, Cr, Li, Mo and Sr in some of the locations exceeded the values in typical freshwater. Correlation and cluster analyses indicated common sources for some elements, while factor analysis suggested dissolution of brine, dissolution of barite mineral, weathering of the bedrock and prevailing oxidation-reduction potential of the environment as the main factors responsible for the occurrence of these trace elements in groundwater. The present data therefore is expected to serve as a good guide for future groundwater management of the area.

Published in	International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11
Page(s)	1-13
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Trace Metals, Background Values, Multivariate Analysis, Pollution, Nigeria

References

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APA Style

Aniekan Edet, Aniediobong Ukpong, Therese Nganje. (2013). Baseline Concentration and Sources of Trace Elements in Groundwater of Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 2(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11

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ACS Style

Aniekan Edet; Aniediobong Ukpong; Therese Nganje. Baseline Concentration and Sources of Trace Elements in Groundwater of Cross River State, Nigeria. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2013, 2(1), 1-13. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11

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AMA Style

Aniekan Edet, Aniediobong Ukpong, Therese Nganje. Baseline Concentration and Sources of Trace Elements in Groundwater of Cross River State, Nigeria. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2013;2(1):1-13. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11,
  author = {Aniekan Edet and Aniediobong Ukpong and Therese Nganje},
  title = {Baseline Concentration and Sources of Trace Elements in Groundwater of Cross River State, Nigeria},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-13},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20140201.11},
  abstract = {Groundwater samples were collected from wells in Cross River State (Nigeria) and analysed for trace elements including Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr and Zn. The primary aim of the study was to determine the baseline concentrations of these metals, while the secondary aim was to assess the present level of pollution, as a basis for future impact of human and industrial activities on the groundwater quality. Multivariate statistical methods were applied to determine the relationships between the different trace elements and also infer their different sources. The results showed that the contents of Ba, Fe, and Pb in groundwater from some locations were higher than the World Health Organisation, WHO maximum admissible concentration (MAC) of 700µg/l, 300µg/l and 100µg/l respectively. The contents of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb and Zn were lower than the concentrations in freshwater, while the contents of Ba, Cr, Li, Mo and Sr in some of the locations exceeded the values in typical freshwater. Correlation and cluster analyses indicated common sources for some elements, while factor analysis suggested dissolution of brine, dissolution of barite mineral, weathering of the bedrock and prevailing oxidation-reduction potential of the environment as the main factors responsible for the occurrence of these trace elements in groundwater. The present data therefore is expected to serve as a good guide for future groundwater management of the area.},
 year = {2013}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Baseline Concentration and Sources of Trace Elements in Groundwater of Cross River State, Nigeria
AU  - Aniekan Edet
AU  - Aniediobong Ukpong
AU  - Therese Nganje
Y1  - 2013/12/20
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 1
EP  - 13
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11
AB  - Groundwater samples were collected from wells in Cross River State (Nigeria) and analysed for trace elements including Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr and Zn. The primary aim of the study was to determine the baseline concentrations of these metals, while the secondary aim was to assess the present level of pollution, as a basis for future impact of human and industrial activities on the groundwater quality. Multivariate statistical methods were applied to determine the relationships between the different trace elements and also infer their different sources. The results showed that the contents of Ba, Fe, and Pb in groundwater from some locations were higher than the World Health Organisation, WHO maximum admissible concentration (MAC) of 700µg/l, 300µg/l and 100µg/l respectively. The contents of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb and Zn were lower than the concentrations in freshwater, while the contents of Ba, Cr, Li, Mo and Sr in some of the locations exceeded the values in typical freshwater. Correlation and cluster analyses indicated common sources for some elements, while factor analysis suggested dissolution of brine, dissolution of barite mineral, weathering of the bedrock and prevailing oxidation-reduction potential of the environment as the main factors responsible for the occurrence of these trace elements in groundwater. The present data therefore is expected to serve as a good guide for future groundwater management of the area.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Aniekan Edet

Department of Geology, University of Calabar, POB 3609 Unical Post Office, Calabar, Nigeria
Aniediobong Ukpong

Department of Geology, University of Calabar, POB 3609 Unical Post Office, Calabar, Nigeria
Therese Nganje

Department of Geology, University of Calabar, POB 3609 Unical Post Office, Calabar, Nigeria

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APA Style

Aniekan Edet, Aniediobong Ukpong, Therese Nganje. (2013). Baseline Concentration and Sources of Trace Elements in Groundwater of Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 2(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11

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ACS Style

Aniekan Edet; Aniediobong Ukpong; Therese Nganje. Baseline Concentration and Sources of Trace Elements in Groundwater of Cross River State, Nigeria. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2013, 2(1), 1-13. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11

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AMA Style

Aniekan Edet, Aniediobong Ukpong, Therese Nganje. Baseline Concentration and Sources of Trace Elements in Groundwater of Cross River State, Nigeria. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2013;2(1):1-13. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11,
  author = {Aniekan Edet and Aniediobong Ukpong and Therese Nganje},
  title = {Baseline Concentration and Sources of Trace Elements in Groundwater of Cross River State, Nigeria},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-13},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20140201.11},
  abstract = {Groundwater samples were collected from wells in Cross River State (Nigeria) and analysed for trace elements including Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr and Zn. The primary aim of the study was to determine the baseline concentrations of these metals, while the secondary aim was to assess the present level of pollution, as a basis for future impact of human and industrial activities on the groundwater quality. Multivariate statistical methods were applied to determine the relationships between the different trace elements and also infer their different sources. The results showed that the contents of Ba, Fe, and Pb in groundwater from some locations were higher than the World Health Organisation, WHO maximum admissible concentration (MAC) of 700µg/l, 300µg/l and 100µg/l respectively. The contents of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb and Zn were lower than the concentrations in freshwater, while the contents of Ba, Cr, Li, Mo and Sr in some of the locations exceeded the values in typical freshwater. Correlation and cluster analyses indicated common sources for some elements, while factor analysis suggested dissolution of brine, dissolution of barite mineral, weathering of the bedrock and prevailing oxidation-reduction potential of the environment as the main factors responsible for the occurrence of these trace elements in groundwater. The present data therefore is expected to serve as a good guide for future groundwater management of the area.},
 year = {2013}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Baseline Concentration and Sources of Trace Elements in Groundwater of Cross River State, Nigeria
AU  - Aniekan Edet
AU  - Aniediobong Ukpong
AU  - Therese Nganje
Y1  - 2013/12/20
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 1
EP  - 13
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140201.11
AB  - Groundwater samples were collected from wells in Cross River State (Nigeria) and analysed for trace elements including Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr and Zn. The primary aim of the study was to determine the baseline concentrations of these metals, while the secondary aim was to assess the present level of pollution, as a basis for future impact of human and industrial activities on the groundwater quality. Multivariate statistical methods were applied to determine the relationships between the different trace elements and also infer their different sources. The results showed that the contents of Ba, Fe, and Pb in groundwater from some locations were higher than the World Health Organisation, WHO maximum admissible concentration (MAC) of 700µg/l, 300µg/l and 100µg/l respectively. The contents of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb and Zn were lower than the concentrations in freshwater, while the contents of Ba, Cr, Li, Mo and Sr in some of the locations exceeded the values in typical freshwater. Correlation and cluster analyses indicated common sources for some elements, while factor analysis suggested dissolution of brine, dissolution of barite mineral, weathering of the bedrock and prevailing oxidation-reduction potential of the environment as the main factors responsible for the occurrence of these trace elements in groundwater. The present data therefore is expected to serve as a good guide for future groundwater management of the area.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

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