The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Environmental impact of anthropogenic activities from industrial sources, have become a threat to biodiversity. Water samples were collected from rivers around the flow station, and analysed from some physicochemical parameters and hydrocarbon contents. Result of the physicochemistry was reported for: pH (6.58± 0.04 - 6.76±0.01), conductivity (168.30±13.98 - 194.57±3.78 µS/cm), conductivity 8.29±0.04 - 10.66±0.02 NTU, salinity (0.07±0.00 - 0.09± 0.00 mg/l), and Total Solids (83.96±1.49 - 103.66±0.60mg/l). Other elemental analysis includes: sulphates (2.43±0.01 - 4.28 ±0.02 mg/l), nitrates (0.19±0.01 - 0.28±0.01 mg/l), carbonates (1.14±0.07 - 2.06±0.07 mg/l), calcium (8.45±0.10 - 11.70±0.25 mg/l), magnesium (1.14±0.07 - 2.56±0.03 mg/l), and sodium (4.37±0.15 - 5.62±0.03 mg/l). The values of THC and TPH were 0.92±0.08 - 1.51±0.03, and 0.37±0.13 - 0.76±0.07 mg/l respectively. Generally, the result indicated mild level of contamination in terms of Hydrocarbon contents. However, diagnostic data emerging for physicochemistry and some elemental property indicates the water is unfit for consumption. Notwithstanding, the order on contamination were reported as; downstream > midstream > upstream. Therefore this study concludes that there should be frequent monitoring of the recipient water bodies associated with the flow station in order to check anthropogenic activities, and conserve biodiversity.
Over the past decades, the problems posed by Hydrocarbon contamination have become a source of concern. Environmental pollution have adversely affected all forms of biodiversity, infringing on the ambient quality of the abiotic environment such as; soil water and air
Hydrocarbon or crude oil is a homogenous fluid substance with carbon as its massive substantial component. Notwithstanding, the origin of hydrocarbon dwells on two school of thought, being the abiotic theory and the biotic or biogenic theory. The formal believes crude oil originated from inorganic substances, while the latter adduce its origin to anaerobic decomposition of organic matter. As established by Obuasi
As a result of anthropogenic activities associated with the emission of hydrocarbons, including but not limited to; pipeline sabotage, accidental discharge and rupture of pipeline, large volumes of hydrocarbons contaminants are released into the environment. Such releases often pose immediate, or long term ecotoxicological and environmental degradation. The toxicity of hydrocarbon pollutants pose grave consequences to both terrestrial and aquatic environments, thereby affecting keystone biota of the ecosystem
Hydrocarbons are common residual pollutant found in most organic waste around oil and gas exploration facilities
The Etelebou creek lies along the Gbarain/Ekpetiama (Central Niger Delta) area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study area is a wetland have two major seasons (dry and wet seasons). It has an elevation of 4 meters above sea level. It is located around the Taylor creek, with geographical coordinates of; latitude 5o 1’ 36.44’’, and longitude 6o 16’53’’. Gbarain settlement have several communities which includes: Ikpetiama, Agbia, Koroama, Polaku, Obinagha, Nedugo and Ogboloma. Specifically, the Flow Station is located at Ogboloma in Gbarain/Ekpetiama Clan of Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria (
The triplicate sampling of the surface water from the study area was carried out in 4 stations. Sampling was carried out; upstream, midstream and downstream, including the control station. Physicochemical parameters like; pH and Total dissolved Solid (TDS) were measured
Analysis of ionic elements were carried out based on the protocol of APHA,
Version 20 of SPSS was the applied statistical tool. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used for the statistical analysis of all emerging data, which graph chart were plotted using 2013 version of Microsoft excel package.
Results of the physicochemical properties of the recipient surface water in the study area is presented in
pH | Conductivity (µS/cm) | Turbidity (NTU) | Salinity(mg/l) | TSS(mg/l) | TDS(mg/l) | TS(mg/l) | |
Upstream | 6.70 ± 0.09 | 168. 30 ± 13.98 | 8.29 ± 0.04 | 0.07 ± 0.00 | 11.29 ± 0.04 | 72.67 ± 1.45 | 83.96± 1.49 |
Midstream | 6.76 ± 0.01 | 176.67 ± 6.49 | 9.49 ± 0.01 | 0.07 ± 0.00 | 12.49 ± 0.01 | 87.00 ± 0.58 | 100.94± 0.59 |
Downstream | 6.58 ± 0.04 | 194.57 ± 3.78 | 10.66 ± 0.02 | 0.09 ± 0.00 | 13.66 ± 0.02 | 90.00 ± 0.58 | 103.66± 0.60 |
Control | 6.77 ± 0.02 | 180.67 ± 0.33 | 18.68 ± 0.07 | 0.08 ± 0.00 | 17.53 ± 0.02 | 104.00 ± 2.08 | 221.66± 2.08 |
WHO Limits | 6.50 – 8.50 | NS | 5.00 | 600 | NS | NS | 1500 |
Data expressed as mean ± standard deviation, NS means not specified limits.
Result on turbidity of the water sample was in the range of 8.29 ± 0.04 - 10.66 ± 0.02 NTU (
As presented in
The results of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) ranges from 72.67 ± 1.45 - 90.00 ± 0.58 mg/l, with a higher value of 104.00 ± 2.08 mg/l in the control station (
Result of the ionic assessment of the water samples is presented in
SO4(mg/l) | NO3(mg/l) | HCO3(mg/l) | Ca(mg/l) | Mg(mg/l) | Na(mg/l) | K(mg/l) | |
Upstream | 2.43 ± 0.01 | 0.19 ± 0.01 | 1.14 ± 0.07 | 8.45 ± 0.10 | 1.14 ± 0.07 | 4.37 ± 0.15 | 1.76 ± 0.01 |
Midstream | 3.86 ± 0.02 | 0.20 ± 0.01 | 1.43 ± 0.01 | 9.48 ± 0.10 | 1.43 ± 0.01 | 4.63 ± 0.01 | 1.81 ± 0.01 |
Downstream | 4.28 ± 0.02 | 0.28 ± 0.01 | 2.06 ± 0.07 | 11.70 ± 0.25 | 2.56 ± 0.03 | 5.62 ± 0.03 | 2.21 ± 0.01 |
Control | 4.66 ± 0.02 | 0.33 ± 0.01 | 2.56 ± 0.03 | 12.03 ± 0.37 | 2.66 ± 0.07 | 5.66 ± 0.03 | 2.45 ± 0.03 |
WHO Limit | 100 | NS | NS | 200 | 150 | NS | NS |
Carbonate ion level ranges from 1.14 ± 0.07 - 2.06 ± 0.07 mg/l with higher value (2.56 ± 0.03 mg/l) in the control station. Notwithstanding, the highest and lowest level of carbonate ion were recorded downstream and upstream respectively. In addition, the regulatory limit of carbonate was not specified, but the higher level of carbonate reported in the control station indicates lesser impact of carbonate in the study area (
The level of magnesium ranges from 1.14 ± 0.07 - 2.56 ± 0.03 mg/l. Meanwhile a higher value (2.66 ± 0.07mg/l) was recorded in the control station. While all values of magnesium complied with regulatory limit of WHO, the highest and lowest levels of magnesium were similarly recorded downstream and upstream respectively. Furthermore the levels of sodium ranged from 4.37 ± 0.15 - 5.62 ± 0.03 mg/l, while the control station had higher value of 5.66 ± 0.03 mg/l. Meanwhile the highest and lowest levels of sodium were recorded downstream and upstream respectively. The levels of potassium was highest downstream and lowest upstream. Notwithstanding, spatial potassium level ranges from 1.76 ± 0.01 - 2.21 ± 0.01 mg/l. No regulatory limit, but potassium level was higher in the control station 2.45 ± 0.03 (
Generally the measured concentration of TPH in the study area were low, compared to THC. Notwithstanding, the values of THC ranges from 0.92± 0.08 - 1.51±0.03 mg/l, with a lower value in the control station 0.10 ± 0.00 mg/l (
As established in literature, Hydrocarbon pollutant in surface water can adversely affect aquatic biota
Result of TPH in our study is very low and in tandem with to values of 0.045 to 0.307 mg/l in the water samples from Algoa Bay showing as reported by Adeniji et al.
This study investigated the impact of Etelebou Flow Station on surface water on the Gbarain, axis of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Fortunately, results indicated very low level of contamination on recipient water bodies around the flow station. The assessed physicochemical parameters were within regulatory limit. The assessed ionic content of the water was low as well. Similarly, the levels of TPH and THC were very low and tolerable. In most cases, physicochemical properties of samples from the control station were even higher. Generally, the order of contamination were reported as; Downstream > Midstream > Upstream. This study concludes that emissions from the flow station should be monitored regularly, in order to avert potential adverse Impacts.