Abstrait

The effect of crude oil spill on the surface water of the Lower Niger Delta (Sombriero River).

Oteiva Frank, Ndokiari Boisa

Crude oil spill on the ecosystem of the Niger Delta area of Nigeria had been on the front burner for over three decades. This article viewed crude oil spill impact on the physicochemical properties and heavy metals of the Sombriero river axis of Bille, Abonnema and Degema in March, 2018. Samples were collected from nine sampling points along the stretch of the river 500 meters apart each sampling point. The physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, alkalinity, turbidity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, chloride, and ortho-phosphate and total hardness) were analyzed using APHA standard methods whereas the heavy metals (iron, zinc, copper, chromium, cadmium, nickel and lead) were determined with Atomic Absorption Spectroscopic method. The results got were compared with the baseline data from previous work published by the same authors. The results of the physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations showed effect of crude oil impact on the river due to corrosion of crude oil pipelines, sabotage (illegal refining), oil production operations and transportation of the crude oil products in jerry cans loaded in local wooden boats being ferried along the coastal river as some of the parameters were higher than the initial conditions of the river. Some of the heavy metals are carcinogens that affects human through the food chain. Therefore, crude oil spill on the river should be prevented.