Speciation of heavy metals in the sidments of Gubi dam, Bauchi state, Nigeria

Abstract

Speciation of heavy metals in the sediments of Gubi Dam in Bauchi, Nigeria was carried out between December, 2001 and March, 2002. The mean total concentrations showed that Tatimari tributary has high Fe, Zn, and Mn, confirming it source and path. The spillway result suggest intensive farming activity along the dam runway. However, the physio-chemical forms of Fe, Pb, and Cr indicate that these metals are associated in high concentration with the mineral matrix of the sediment, as such it is most unlikely to become biologically available. High levels of Cu, Cd, Zn, Mn, Co and Ni are associated with the exchangeable carbonate bound fractions, indicating that they are in potentially available forms and many pose serious problems to the dam ecosystem.

KEY WORDS: Sediments, Speciation, Heavy metals, Gubi Dam, Nigeria