The Multivariate Statistical Analysis of the Environmental Pollutants at Lake Nyamagoma

Abstract

Results from multivariate statistical analysis of the environmental pollutants conducted during the wet season at 8 accessible sampling sites in Lake Nyamagoma are discussed. Standard methods were used to determine the levels of pollutants from the filtered water samples. Physical parameters including DO, EC, pH turbidity, temperature and transparency were measured in situ using appropriate gears whilst NO₃^-, PO₄^3-, SiO₂, Fe²⁺, HCO₃^-, SO₄^2-, Cl^- and major cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺) were determined in the laboratory. Data show that the variation of the environmental pollutants at the sampled sites is controlled by the factors including increased primary productivity, redox conditions, dissolution, nitrification, denitrification, mixing and reduction processes along with the anthropogenic activities. Future work is recommended to focus on the intensive seasonal studies using statistical approaches on the hydro-bio-chemical parameters to address the climate change impacts for sustainability of Lake Nyamagoma.

Keywords: Multivariate statistics, environmental pollutants, factors, anthropogenic activities, Lake