Determination of Toxic and Trace Elements in Water Sediment and Vegetation in Topcamp Stream

Human activities have continuously disturbed the natural aquatic ecosystem. The objective of the study was to determine some trace elements concentrations in water, sediments and vegetations in the impacted Topcamp stream. The study area lies between Latitudes 07°25'30'' N to 07°25'50'' and Longitude 003°2'00'' to 003°55'50'' E, a 3 km stretch of freshwater within metropolitan city. Single grab of surface water and sediment samples on sequential sites were studied. Vegetation samples, syndrella modiflora, were collected in the vicinity of the stream and analyzed. Results showed that the cation ions Ca and K were in excess of normal good quality water. The values of As, Cu, Cr, Fe and Zn were generally low and below the European Commission and WHO guidelines of drinking water quality. The trace elements concentration in the sediments, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Zn were elevated relative to water concentrations. The element concentrations in plant, syndrella nodiflora showed high moderate of Ca and Mg, low of As, Cr, P and Cd. Lead and Cd were below detection limit in water and sediment. When the sediment level of elements were compared to that of water, it is obvious that the residue levels of all heavy metals decreased indicating some capacity for assimilation.