ABSTRACT

The sedimentary record, as revealed in sediment cores, can be used to reconstruct the past history of contaminant input into the aquatic environment. This is because contaminant inputs equilibrate rapidly with sediment supply, and the sediment column represents a continuous sequence of sediments that are associated with contaminant accumulation. With radiometric techniques, it is possible to date recent sediments over a period corresponding to about five half-lives (approximately 100-200 years using 210Pb). To understand the geochemistry of estuarine sediments in relation to their provenance, trace metal accumulation trends and potential ecotoxicological risks, this study investigated sediment cores and surficial sediments from the Ankobra, Pra, Amisa, Densu, Sakumo II and Volta estuaries of Ghana. Geochemical and petrographical techniques were used to reveal the source of sediment supply into the estuarine environments. In addition, Gamma Spectroscopy and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometric (ICP-MS) techniques were used for deriving geochronologies, sedimentation rates, spatial and temporal accumulation of Mo, Cd, Pb, V, Cr, Cu, Zn, As and Hg in the study sites. The pollution status of the estuarine sediments was investigated using Aluminum-normalized enrichment factors (EFs). Cluster and correlation analysis differentiated natural from anthropogenic sources of trace metal in the estuaries. The excess fluxes of trace metals, estimated using sedimentation rates helped in quantifying the extent of anthropogenic contamination of metals in each estuary. AQUARISK software was used to assess any potential ecotoxicological risks associated with trace metal enrichments. Results showed that sediments from the Ankobra, Pra, Densu and Volta estuaries comprised quartzose sedimentary provenance while those of Amisa and Sakumo II estuaries comprised mafic igneous provenance. The sedimentation rates estimated from the constant rate of supply model were 0.24±0.10 gcm-2 y -1, 0.47±0.20 gcm-2 y -1, 0.43±0.02 gcm-2 y -1, 0.31±0.13 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh iii gcm -2 y -1, 0.20±0.01gcm-2 y -1 and 0.54±03 gcm-2 y -1 for the Ankobra, Pra, Amisa, Densu, Sakumo II and Volta estuaries respectively. The sediment core from the Ankobra estuary was significantly enriched with Hg (5.0