Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals and water bird distribution in rift valley lakes, Kenya
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Date
2017Author
Barasa, Mercy
Mbaria, James
Muchem, Gerald
Gakuya, Francis
Kariuki, Edward
Wamiti, Wanyoike
Type
ArticleLanguage
en_USMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The study was carried out in six Kenyan rift valley lakes, Nakuru, Magadi, Oloiden, Crater (Sonachi),
Bogoria and Elementaita with the aim to determine the levels of heavy metals and other metal elements
(Co, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni, Hg and As) in water and sediment samples as well as assess its
association with water bird distribution. High levels of Pb (42 ppm) above the Pb benchmark levels (36
ppm) as per EPA (2007) benchmarks were detected in Lake Oloiden sediments. Lakes Bogoria and
Elementaita had high levels of Mn (3676.7 ± 6652.3 and 747.55 ± 510.95, respectively), also above the Mn
benchmark levels (631 ppm), according to EPA (2007). The mean sediment concentrations for Zn, Pb,
Ni, As and Hg varied significantly (P<0.05) among the six lakes. Apart from Zn, all other metals (Pb, Co,
Mn, Cr, Cd, Fe and Cu) varied significantly in all water samples from the six selected lakes (P<0.05). A
total of 15 water bird families were identified across the six lakes. The distribution of the families for
lakes Nakuru, Magadi, Elementaita, Oloiden, Bogoria and Crater were 11, 9, 9, 7, 6 and 4, respectively.
There was no association between metal elements concentration and water bird distribution in all the
selected six lakes (P>0.05). It was concluded that metals concentration in Kenyan Rift Valley lakes has
no significant influence on the distribution of water birds. High Mn levels in lakes Bogoria and
Elementaita, and Pb in Oloiden may cause toxic effects to the aquatic life and humans as a result of
bioaccumulation.
URI
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/2bd3/008ecf2efbbf3751f5f47dc84d269e6dfeab.pdfhttp://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/108115
Citation
Mercy, B., Mbaria, J., Muchemi, G., Gakuya, F., Kariuki, E., & Wamiti, W. (2017). Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals and water bird distribution in rift valley lakes, Kenya.Publisher
Journal of Ecology and The Natural Environment