Trends in Trace Metal Burdens in Sediment, Fish Species and Filtered Water of Igbede River, Lagos, Nigeria

• Main Authors: A.B. Williams, O.O. Ayejuyo, J.A. Adekoya
• Format: Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Asian Network for Scientific Information, Pakistan 2007
• Subjects: filtered water; Galeoides decadactylus; Igbede river; sediment; Trace metals

Trends in trace metal burdens in surface sediment, fish species (Galeoides decadactylus) and filtered water of Igbede river, Lagos were assessed weekly in November, 2003. Levels of selected metals (Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cr, Mn and Fe) were determined in the acid digests of the samples and the result showed that sediment retained more than 70% of the trace metals while the metal levels were more in the biota than the filtered water samples. Comparative statistical analyses of the mean levels also revealed that the distribution of the metals in the samples investigated followed the order Fe > Zn > Mn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd for sediment; Fe > Zn > Pb> Mn > Cu > Cd > Cr for Galeoides decadactylus and Fe > Cr > Cu > Mn > Pb > Cd > Zn for filtered water, respectively. Metal levels varied from sample to sample. Cr was not detected in the fish species neither was Zn detected in the filtered water samples. The results, however, fell within tolerable limits stipulated by World Health Organization (WHO).