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Volume 7, Issue 2 (Suppl)

J Ecosyst Ecography, an open access journal

ISSN:2157-7625

September 18-20, 2017

September 18-20, 2017 Toronto, Canada

Joint Conference

International Conference on

Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology

Ecology and Ecosystems

J Ecosyst Ecography 2017, 7:2 (Suppl)

DOI: 10.4172/2157-7625-C1-030

Distribution and risk assessment of heavymetals in surficial sediments fromAwashRiverbasin, Ethiopia

Dirbaba Niguse Bekele, Hongjuan Wu

and

Jun Wang

Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China

ike many parts of developing nations, rapid population growth, high urbanization rate and poor waste management practices have

been observed in Awash River basin. On the other hand, no detailed and systemic study was conducted to determine the status of

sediment pollution with heavy metals in the basin. 138 samples were taken from 46 sites and tested for determination of heavy metals

content, distribution, pollution level, possible sources of pollutants and associated ecological risk. The results indicated that the mean

concentration of the elements had exceeded their respective background values except Pb and Hg. A comparison with similar studies

revealed that sediments from Awash River basin had highest average value for Cd. The mean enrichment factors of heavy metals were

listed in increasing order as Hg<As<Pb<Ni<Cu<Cr<Zn<Cd. Multivariate analysis revealed that Ni and Cu had common sources

while the other heavy metals were originated from different anthropogenic sources. The pollution load index value of the study area

was 2.94, indicating high ecological pollution. Sediment quality guidelines revealed that heavy metals like Ni, Zn and Cr were the

major concerns in the study area. The mean effects range from medium quotient values of sampling sites varied between 0.351-2.996

indicating medium priority up to high priority sites. Potential ecological risk index of trace elements from Awash River Basin was

343.67, designating high potential toxicity response. Generally, the study indicated that surficial sediment in Awash River Basin was

polluted by heavy metals and posed high ecological risks.