Water quality, heavy metal contamination, and ecological risk assessment in Asejire reservoir, Nigeria
Monitoring water and sediment quality in freshwater ecosystems is essential for sustainable management and ecological protection. This study assessed heavy metal contamination in water and sediments from five sampling stations in Asejire Reservoir, Oyo State, Nigeria. A range of pollution indices wa...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Freshwater Ecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02705060.2025.2516505 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850166548930494464 |
|---|---|
| author | Oluwafemi A. Olowojuni Folasade D. Amulejoye Bamijoko B. Ikuesan Sahya Maulu Henry Bwalya Oliver J. Hasimuna |
| author_facet | Oluwafemi A. Olowojuni Folasade D. Amulejoye Bamijoko B. Ikuesan Sahya Maulu Henry Bwalya Oliver J. Hasimuna |
| author_sort | Oluwafemi A. Olowojuni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Monitoring water and sediment quality in freshwater ecosystems is essential for sustainable management and ecological protection. This study assessed heavy metal contamination in water and sediments from five sampling stations in Asejire Reservoir, Oyo State, Nigeria. A range of pollution indices was employed to quantify contamination levels. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) were used to identify potential sources of pollution, while the Water Quality Index (WQI) provided an overall evaluation of water quality. The WQI score of 74.23 indicated generally good water quality, although localized contamination was observed. PCA results suggested that most heavy metals originated from anthropogenic activities, and CA grouped pollution sources into two main clusters. The geo-accumulation index showed low cadmium (Cd) levels at most stations, with slight to moderate pollution recorded at Station 5. Chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) exhibited moderate to strong pollution levels. Ecological risk assessment indicated no significant risk from Cr, low risk from Cu and Pb, and a very high ecological risk from Cd. The Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), ranging from 290.35 to 294.75, further confirmed substantial human-related input. These findings highlight the need for routine monitoring and targeted remediation to prevent further degradation, safeguard aquatic ecosystems, and protect public health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c9f23ecddb2a4952ade56b835fcb54fc |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0270-5060 2156-6941 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Freshwater Ecology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c9f23ecddb2a4952ade56b835fcb54fc2025-08-20T02:21:25ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Freshwater Ecology0270-50602156-69412025-12-0140110.1080/02705060.2025.2516505Water quality, heavy metal contamination, and ecological risk assessment in Asejire reservoir, NigeriaOluwafemi A. Olowojuni0Folasade D. Amulejoye1Bamijoko B. Ikuesan2Sahya Maulu3Henry Bwalya4Oliver J. Hasimuna5Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, NigeriaDepartment of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, NigeriaDepartment of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, NigeriaSchool of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UKDepartment of Zoology and Aquatic Sciences, School of Natural Resources, Copperbelt University, Kitwe, ZambiaDepartment of Aquaculture and Fisheries, School of Agricultural Sciences, Palabana University, Lusaka, ZambiaMonitoring water and sediment quality in freshwater ecosystems is essential for sustainable management and ecological protection. This study assessed heavy metal contamination in water and sediments from five sampling stations in Asejire Reservoir, Oyo State, Nigeria. A range of pollution indices was employed to quantify contamination levels. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) were used to identify potential sources of pollution, while the Water Quality Index (WQI) provided an overall evaluation of water quality. The WQI score of 74.23 indicated generally good water quality, although localized contamination was observed. PCA results suggested that most heavy metals originated from anthropogenic activities, and CA grouped pollution sources into two main clusters. The geo-accumulation index showed low cadmium (Cd) levels at most stations, with slight to moderate pollution recorded at Station 5. Chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) exhibited moderate to strong pollution levels. Ecological risk assessment indicated no significant risk from Cr, low risk from Cu and Pb, and a very high ecological risk from Cd. The Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), ranging from 290.35 to 294.75, further confirmed substantial human-related input. These findings highlight the need for routine monitoring and targeted remediation to prevent further degradation, safeguard aquatic ecosystems, and protect public health.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02705060.2025.2516505Asejire reservoirecological risksheavy metal pollutionhuman health risktrace elementswater quality |
| spellingShingle | Oluwafemi A. Olowojuni Folasade D. Amulejoye Bamijoko B. Ikuesan Sahya Maulu Henry Bwalya Oliver J. Hasimuna Water quality, heavy metal contamination, and ecological risk assessment in Asejire reservoir, Nigeria Journal of Freshwater Ecology Asejire reservoir ecological risks heavy metal pollution human health risk trace elements water quality |
| title | Water quality, heavy metal contamination, and ecological risk assessment in Asejire reservoir, Nigeria |
| title_full | Water quality, heavy metal contamination, and ecological risk assessment in Asejire reservoir, Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Water quality, heavy metal contamination, and ecological risk assessment in Asejire reservoir, Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water quality, heavy metal contamination, and ecological risk assessment in Asejire reservoir, Nigeria |
| title_short | Water quality, heavy metal contamination, and ecological risk assessment in Asejire reservoir, Nigeria |
| title_sort | water quality heavy metal contamination and ecological risk assessment in asejire reservoir nigeria |
| topic | Asejire reservoir ecological risks heavy metal pollution human health risk trace elements water quality |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02705060.2025.2516505 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT oluwafemiaolowojuni waterqualityheavymetalcontaminationandecologicalriskassessmentinasejirereservoirnigeria AT folasadedamulejoye waterqualityheavymetalcontaminationandecologicalriskassessmentinasejirereservoirnigeria AT bamijokobikuesan waterqualityheavymetalcontaminationandecologicalriskassessmentinasejirereservoirnigeria AT sahyamaulu waterqualityheavymetalcontaminationandecologicalriskassessmentinasejirereservoirnigeria AT henrybwalya waterqualityheavymetalcontaminationandecologicalriskassessmentinasejirereservoirnigeria AT oliverjhasimuna waterqualityheavymetalcontaminationandecologicalriskassessmentinasejirereservoirnigeria |