Journal Facts

Journal
Journal of Environmental Systems
ISSN
0047-2433 (print) 1541-3802 (electronic)
Volume
32
Issue
1
Date
1/1/2005

Article Facts

Title
Hydrocarbon and Heavy Metal Pollution of Water and Sediments of Cross River and Akwa Ibom Coastal Waters, Nigeria
DOI
10.2190/ES.32.1.d
Author
Flora E. Olaifa
Pages
27-36
Online Date
11/29/2010

Article Links

Hydrocarbon and Heavy Metal Pollution of Water and Sediments of Cross River and Akwa Ibom Coastal Waters, Nigeria

Flora E. Olaifa

DOI: 10.2190/ES.32.1.d

Abstract

A study was undertaken to determine the total hydrocarbon (THC) and heavy metal contents of water (surface: 0-15 cm and bottom: 2-13 m), sediments (intertidal and waterbed) in coastal areas of Cross River and Akwa Ibom States of Nigeria affected by a major oil spill in 1998. Water and sediment samples were collected in the dry (March and December) and wet (July and October) seasons between 1999 and 2002. Significant spatial variation (p < 0.05) was observed for THC and heavy metals. THC (mg/L) averaged 0.998 for surface and 0.827 for bottom water. All heavy metals of interest: chromium, copper, cadmium, lead, iron, manganese, zinc, and vanadium were present in samples and sediments contained significantly higher (p < 0.05) THC and heavy metals than water. Concentrations of THC in water and sediments exceeded World Health Organization's limits by an average of 0.9979 and 0.8269 mg/L in surface and bottom waters respectively.

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