Author(s): Akankali JA and Davies IC

Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the concentration of lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) in a fish species (Sarotherodon melanotheron), sediment and water from three different stations along Choba axis of New Calabar River, within the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Station one was located upstream of the river, very close to slaughter; Station two was located midstream and it is close to Indomie factory while station three was located downstream with no industrial activity. The samples were analyzed for Lead and Zinc content using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS VGB 210 system). The results were compared with the permissible limits given by World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigerian Federal Ministry of Environment (FMENV), which is given as 3.0 (mg/l) for Zinc and 0.01(mg/l) for Lead. The result for Lead in fish ranges from 1.49-8.06mg/l and Zinc in fish ranges from 7.3-29.25mg/l and the range for water is 0.001 (which was found below detection limit of the instrument). The result for Zinc in fish and Lead in fish were all above the permissible limits which is given as 3.0 (mg/l) for Zinc and 0.01(mg/l) for Lead. The results also showed that the New Calabar River is contaminated with heavy metal (Zinc and Lead). Hence the key recommendation is that strict compliance to regulatory standards on limits of effluents by anthropogenic activities and industries located along the stretch of the river should be enforced by the relevant regulatory bodies such as National Environmental Standard regulatory agency of Nigeria (NESREA), Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEMV) and Nigerian Oil Spill Response and Detection Agency (NOSDRA). Effort should also be made to ensure that Zinc and Lead and other heavy metals do not exceed the prescribed World Health Organization (WHO) and Federal Ministry of Environmental acceptable limits.

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