Heavy Metals Pollution in Surface Water and Sediment of Lower Cross River System in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

Authors: S.A. Odoemelam, A.M. Udongwo and I. A. Okoro

This study analyzed some heavy metals in surface water and sediment from Cross River system in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Water and sediment samples were collected from Ibaka, Oron, Nwaniba, Ayadehe, Okopedi and Enwang and analyzed for the concentration of some heavy metal ions using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results obtained from the analysis indicated that mean concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, Co, Cu, Se and Ni in surface water were 13.69±8.97, 20.53±10.60, 18±11.47, 25.81±13.91, 26.9±11.0 1.18±0.32 and 32.67±26.16 g while the corresponding mean concentrations in the sediments were 0.52±0.24, 57.78±15.60, 16.22±5.48, 7.52±2.28, 69.81±16.90, 0.75±0.44 and 6.87±2.26 g/g, respectively. The results of surface water and sediment quality were compared with some guidelines which revealed no serious contamination risk to man and aquatic organism for surface water and some degree of contamination at some stations for the metals under study in sediment samples