JOURNALS

ABSTRACT

Heavy metals concentrations in some creeks at Obio Akpor and Port Harcourt local government area were studied in order to know the levels of their concentrations and sources. Field study were done and water samples were collected from the creeks. Field report shows that anthropogenic factors are major source of heavy metals in the creeks than the geogenic factors. Geochemical analysis which was carried out on the water samples revealed the existence of Iron, lead. Copper, Nickel, Manganese, Zinc, Chromium, Cadmium, and Cobalt. These metals occur in all the water samples which were collected at various sample points but they occur in varied quantities. Some of these metals are required for sustainability of man and the environment at a tolerable level but when the tolerable limit is exceeded it becomes hazardous to man and the environment. Iron, copper, manganese, Zinc, Chromium, Cadmium, and Cobalt have average concentrations that are less than World Health Organization (WHO) and Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) required standard while Lead and Nickel have average concentrations that are higher than WHO and SON standard. The content of the metals in all the samples range between 0.04-0.20mg/l for Iron, Copper 0.01-0.08 mg/l, Manganese 0.05-0.18 mg/l, Zin 0.06- 0.09 mg/l, Chromium < 0.001-0.04 mg/l, Cadmium <0.001- 0.012 mg/l, Cobalt < 0.001-0.08 mg/l, Lead 0.06-2.0 mg/l, Nickel 0.02-0.05 mg/l. The heavy elements show increasing order of Ld>Ni>Zn>Mn>Fe>Cu>Cr>Co>Cd. The intolerable levels of Lead and Nickel in the creeks could be due to sludge from industries, hospital wastes, chemicals carried by floods, and deposition of E–waste into the water.