Spatial variational characteristics analysis of heavy metals pollution in the water of the Caroni River system: case study from a tropical river Available to Purchase

This paper presents the spatial variations in distribution of certain heavy metals in the Caroni River Basin, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, which is the most industrialized nation of the Caribbean. Until now, no detailed assessment has been carried out in this area to measure the accumulation indices and associated risks. This study can illustrate the movement and transportation of analysed heavy metals, and can be used for baseline information. Results from the study revealed that the concentration in the river water samples (in μg/L) varies: Cr (5.07 to 6.85), Co (3.47 to 6.07), Ni (5.23 to 9.38), Cu (4.56 to 10.11), Zn (2.13 to 60.91), As (3.97 to 5.7) and Pb (4.04 to 9.92). This study also revealed that these higher concentrations can be attributed to effluents from small-scale industries, unnoticed irrigation processes, and domestic wastes. The San Juan, St Joseph and Arouca rivers were found to be the most polluted, and Cu, Pb, Zn and As were the most abundant metals in the study area. Heavy metals analysed from most of the river-bed and river-bank positions showed very good correlation with respective river water samples (0.98 for river bed and 0.83 for river bank).