Heavy metal concentrations in sediments from eleme creeks in relation to the eleme (indorama) petrochemicals company, rivers state, Nigeria

The Indorama petrochemical is one of the major companies situated at Eleme suburb, Rivers state, Nigeria. Numerous wastes are generated by this company during it production processes among which are heavy metals. Among the Eleme people, there is this belief that their natural water has been polluted by wastes generated by this company. Hence, this study was undertaken to assess the metal concentrations in the creeks. Sediment samples were collected from ten locations in the creeks during the dry and the wet seasons and subjected to heavy metals analysis using atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. Results of the investigations revealed that the concentrations of heavy metals in the sediments ranged between 0.007 and 67.84mg/kg in the wet season and in the dry season, it ranged between 0.0021 and 71.42mg/kg. However, iron concentrations ranged between 103 and 319.41mg/kg. From the findings, all the eight metals analysed were within the recommended levels set by the national and international community except that of iron that was slightly elevated. Results of the 2-way ANOVA showed that there was significant variation in the concentrations of the metals across locations and the periods of sampling. The Indorama company and other companies located within the vicinity of Eleme need to properly treat their wastes before discharging them to minimize the metal concentrations in the creeks so that the health of the people is not endangered