title: Assessment of heavy metal pollution of the Iture estuary in the central region of Ghana.
abstract: A detailed study has been presented on heavy metal content of the Iture Estuary. Waters of the Sorowie and Kakum rivers that supply water into the Estuary were investigated to ascertain heavy metal pollution levels due to anthropogenic activities. Concentration s of Cd, Zn, Se and Pb were measured. The study shows pre-occupying pollution levels that constitute a threat to both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The abundance of metals in the Estuary is in the order Zn > Pb > Cd > Se. The level of Cd in the Iture Estuary ranged between 0.011 mg/l and 0.041 mg/l while Se was in the range 0.018 mg/l to 0.029 mg/l, Pb 0.020 mg/l to 0.075 mg/l and Zn 0.040 to 2.45 mg/l. The impact of contaminated water from the Sorowie River on the Iture Estuary was outstanding and the study points out the importance of the Sorowie River as a primary pollution source to the Iture Estuary. The pollution of the Iture Estuary was found to be connected to human activities in its catchments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, National Nuclear Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon - Accra, Ghana. jrfianko@yahoo.com
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fianko
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Osae
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adomako
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Adotey
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Serfor-Armah
mesh_terms: D016573:Agrochemicals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis*; D005869:Ghana; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016573:Agrochemicals; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical