Obaroh I.O., Abubakar U., Haruna M.A., Elinge M.C.
Department of Biological Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 1144, Aliero Birniin Kebbi, Nigeria; Department of Biological Sciences, Usmanu Danfodio Univeresity, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria; Department of Fisheries and Aqu
Obaroh, I.O., Department of Biological Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 1144, Aliero Birniin Kebbi, Nigeria; Abubakar, U., Department of Biological Sciences, Usmanu Danfodio Univeresity, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria; Haruna, M.A., Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Dutse, P.M.B. 7156Jigawa State, Nigeria; Elinge, M.C., Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 1144, Aliero, Birniin Kebbi, Nigeria
Pollution of inland water ways is largely as a result of human activities along the river banks. Some heavy metals concentrations of River Argungu were evaluated due to its close proximity to the town. The study lasted for 12 months (March, 2014-February, 2015) using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) Analysis. Nickel and copper were highest during the month of July with mean values of 1.02±0.02 and 1.81±0.23 mg L-1, respectively, lead and chromium were highest during the month of September with mean values of 13.12±0.18 and 0.14±0.05 mg L-1, respectively. The Mean±SD of eight heavy metals assessed indicated that, nickel, iron, lead and cadmium detected were observed to be higher than the permissible limit (nickel 0.02, iron 0.30, lead 0.01 and cadmium 0.003 mg L-1) throughout the study period. Zinc was however, lower than the permissible limit of World Health Organization (WHO) throughout the period of the study. Most of the highest concentrations of heavy metals observed were at the onset and during the rainy season. The high concentrations of some heavy metals observed in the river could be as a result of human activities mostly concentrated at the river banks and run-off during the rainy season. This study infers that, some fish species could be threaten as a result of the high concentrations of most of the heavy metals, thus the need for an efficient and sustainable fisheries management to control human activities along the river bank. © 2015 Academic Journals Inc.