ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Spatiotemporal Assessment of Heavy Metal
(Loid) Pollution in Water and Surface Sediment
of the Mohlapitsi River, South Africa
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Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa
Submission date: 2023-06-13
Final revision date: 2023-06-28
Acceptance date: 2023-07-10
Online publication date: 2024-04-15
Publication date: 2024-04-18
Corresponding author
Abraham Addo-Bediako
Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2024;33(4):3545-3554
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ABSTRACT
Freshwater ecosystems are being polluted in many ways with heavy metal (loid)s, mostly due
to human activities that affect aquatic biota and threaten human health. Water and surface sediment
samples were collected from different sites of the Mohlapitsi River, South Africa, during the high
flow and low flow seasons. The samples were analyzed for As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn levels
using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). In the water, only Fe,
Mn, and Zn were detected, but the concentrations were below the standard guideline values except
for Mn. However, in the sediment, all the metal (loid)s were detected in considerable concentrations.
The mean concentrations of the metal (loid)s were higher during high flow than low flow, except for
Fe. The enrichment factor (EF) of the heavy metal (loid)s ranged from low enrichment to moderate
enrichment. Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) Shows moderate contamination levels with Cr and Mn.
The main sources of contamination are attributed to discharges from agricultural fields and grazing
areas in the catchment. The results provide baseline information on metal (loid) contamination
in the Mohlapitsi River for management purposes.