University Of Tehran Press Pollution 2383-451X 10 4 2024 09 01 Geo-Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Sediment and Water from Coastal Marine Wetland in Rivers State, Nigeria 1103 1116 98323 10.22059/poll.2024.373993.2287 EN Davies Ibienebo Chris Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria 0000-0002-1722-7776 Imachrist Ibienebo Davies Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria 0009-0009-1062-2819 Journal Article 2024 03 20 This study investigates the heavy metal concentrations in water and sediment samples from three stations in coastal marine wetlands in Rivers State, Nigeria: Sangama, Degema, and Tema. Samples were collected monthly from October 2021 to April 2022. Igeo, metal pollution load index (MPLI), ecological risk assessment, ecological risk factor (Er), and potential ecological risk index (PERI) were used to evaluate the impact of pollution levels. The average concentrations of heavy metals like Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cu were analyzed to assess contamination levels and ecological risks. Results show spatial variations in metal concentrations, with Sangama having the highest levels in both water and sediment. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and ecological risk factor (Er) were used to evaluate contamination levels and risks. Tema and Degema have generally favourable conditions with low to moderate contamination, while Sangama shows higher levels, especially for Cd, Pb, and Cu. The potential ecological risk index (PERI) and metal pollution load index (MPLI) emphasize the significant ecological risks from heavy metal pollution at all three stations. Urgent action is needed to implement effective environmental management strategies and reduce the impacts of metal pollution on aquatic ecosystems in these areas. https://jpoll.ut.ac.ir/article_98323_14270b6d9105402ccd22b8be813080ed.pdf