Trace-element behaviour in sediments of Ugandan part of Lake Victoria: results from sequential extraction and chemometrical evaluation

Abstract Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake and tropical in world. The transboundary has fastest growing population its catchment, which can impact water sediment quality. To determine extent of anthropogenic effects on quality Ugandan part Victoria, contents binding behaviour trace elements were analysed, as well organic matter phosphorus different layers both deep coastal sediments near cities Entebbe, Kampala Jinja. data assessed using German LAWA criteria for trace-element pollution, Geo-Index, Cluster- Factor analyses. Mostly, no critical contamination investigated area was observed. However, changes element distributions caused by influences from around detected, like higher Cu, Ti V shore with urban surrounding. Near Jinja, industrial wastewaters particularly elevated Cu (70–121 mg/kg, 3.5–6 times geogenic background), exceeding potentially harming aquatic habitat. In addition, temporally estuary River Nzoia (from 4.2 to 17.6% 60 years) due increased soil erosion river’s catchment blooms hyacinth became visible. This study demonstrates that whole responsible ensure a healthy ecosystem Victoria.