Article Sidebar
Article Details
It is unethical to submit an article for publication in different journals, either for simultaneous review or otherwise. Elewa Biosciences will not consider any manuscripts that are being reviewed by other publishers or have been previously published elsewhere.Creative
Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, andindicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
Main Article Content
Heavy metal pollution of aquatic systems in oil producing communities of delta state, Nigeria
Abstract
Objective: This study was designed to determine the heavy metal pollution status of some rivers and creeks within oil producing communities in Delta state of Nigeria.
Methodology and Results: Water and fish samples were collected from six Rivers in Delta state viz: Egbokodo River in Warri, River Ethiope in Sapele, Urie River in Igbide Isoko, Asaba-Ase creek, Aragba River in Abraka, and Uzere Creek. Water fresh, and ready to eat fish samples were analyzed for heavy metals (lead, cadmium, manganese, copper, iron and nickel) levels. Most heavy metals were marginally below the residual level recommended by the World health organisation (WHO) and Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA). Iron cadmium and Nickel were detected in all samples irrespective of the site of collection. Nickel exceeded the WHO standard limit (0.6) in fresh fish samples from Aragba (0.89) and Asaba-Ase (0.7), while fresh fish sample from Ethiope river had marginally higher Manganese concentrations (0.57) than recommended by WHO (0.5)
Conclusion and application of results: Fish from each of these rivers were marginally safe in their concentration of the studied metals. Caution and constant monitoring to prevent increased concentration and to the aquatic fauna and resultant toxicity to human consumers through the trophic web is important. Further investigation and routine monitoring will enable optimal recommendations and policies for surface water and fauna monitoring of the Niger Delta region in Nigeria.
Keywords: Heavy metals; Pollution; fish; Delta state; Nigeria
