Assessment of Sediments Pollution by Trace Metals in the Moloundou Swamp, Southeast Cameroon

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to assess the selected trace metal pollutants in the sediments of the Moloundou swamp. Sediments from typical swamp around Moloundou area, southeast Cameroon were collected from various depths of sediment profile (from surface to 120 cm depth). Five sites were chosen for this study, Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Zn, Cu, and Pb were measured in the sediment. Different trace metals indices (enrichment factor, contamination factor, degree of contamination, ecological risk assessment and geo-accumulation index) were calculated. The results showed that all the swamp is slightly polluted and core 3 is the most polluted. Heavy metal indices give some indication for the pollution of sediments of all cores with Cu. The enrichment factor showed that the source of those metals in Moloundou swamp was from natural (Fe, Ni, Zn and Pb) and anthropogenic sources (Cu, Cr and Co). The degree of contamination and contamination factor showed low values along the cores, like the ecological assessment and pollution load index. The geo-accumulation index showed that sediments are more polluted with Cu, Cr and Co. It is urgent to control anthropogenic waste in order to avoid probable pollution in this zone.