Patrick, Jonathan Agya2023-12-142023-12-142017-06-23A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY KEFFI, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRYhttps://keffi.nsuk.edu.ng/handle/20.500.14448/5462The research was carried out to assess seasonal variations in the levels of physicochemical parameters and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and Pb) concentration in water and bed sediment of Amba River. The water and sediment samples were collected during rainy and dry seasons. Metal concentrations were quantified using Graphite Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (GAAS). Results obtained indicated that water and sediment pH (6.70 - 6.80) were slightly acidic. Total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC) and alkalinity values of water decreased during the rainy season. Metal levels in water were higher during the rainy season, except for the decrease in Cr (0.80±1.69 mg/L) and Zn (0.04±0.08 mg/L) concentrations. Fe and Cu levels were highest amongst metals. Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn concentrations in water during rainy and dry seasons were significantly different (P≤0.05). Metal levels in sediment decreased during the dry season, however, concentrations of Cr (3.61±0.67mg/Kg) and Fe (4.25±1.83mg/Kg)increased during the same period. Metal levels were higher in water and sediment during dry and rainy seasons respectively. Sediment generally contained higher metal concentrations compared to water. Cr, Cu, and Mn levels in water and sediment were significantly different (P ≤0.05) for both seasons. Correlations among metal concentrations during the rainy season were positively strong for Cd-Fe (0.786) and Fe-Pb (0.834), while Fe-Pb (0.886) correlation was strongly positive in dry season. During the rainy season, there were excellent correlations between Cd-Mn (0.974), Mn-Pb (0.932), Cd-Pb (0.854) Cr-Zn (0.786), and Fe-Zn (0.720), while in dry season, Cr-Pb (0.670), Cu-Mn (0.791), Cu-Pb (0.776) and Fe-Zn (0.689) show strong associations. Correlations between metal concentrations in sediment and water were positively strong for Cu (0.960) and Zn (0.951) during rainy season and excellent for Mn (0.920) during dry season. Partition coefficient (Kd) values for the levels of metals in sediment and water were greater than 1 except for Cu (0.00) and Zn (0.99) in rainy season and Cr (0.72) in dry season. Pollution load index (PLI) values during rainy and dry seasons were less than 1which account for the unpolluted nature of the river water. Levels of physicochemical parameters and heavy metals were within the WHO permissible limits for drinking water except for the metals Fe, Cd and Cr.enThesis