Correlation of Physiochemical Parameters and Heavy Metal Accumulation in The Sediment of Elechi Creek, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Sediments are the highest repository of metals in the aquatic environment. This study investigates the correlation between some physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen) and the concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni and V) in the sediments of Elechi Creek. Temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen were investigated in the surface water while Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni and V were investigated in the sediment samples of Elechi creek for 12 consecutive months. Five stations were sampled; station1 (Eagle Cement), station2 (Saipem), station3 (Master Energy), station4 (NAOC) and station5 (Ogbakiri). Readings of temperature, Ph and dissolved oxygen were obtained in situ using a mercury in glass thermometer for temperature, pH meters (EIL model 720, Hach Japan) for pH, and Jenway DO meter (Model, 9071) for dissolved oxygen and their mean values were calculated per station.