Variation of heavy metal levels in the tissues of Periophthalmus papillio from the mangrove swamps of the Bukuma oilfield, Rivers State

The edible (muscles) and non-edible (viscera and gills) parts of Periophthalmus papillio inhabiting the mangrove swamps of the Bukuma oilfield and its environs in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria were analysed for Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu and Ni. The mean levels of heavy metals (µg/g dry wt.) in the edible parts ranged from Zn: 1.30-4.53; Pb 0.14-0.30; Cd ND-0.06; Cu 0.07 0.25 to Ni 0.07-0.16; non-edible parts Zn 1.05-2.31 Pb 0.18-0.46; Cd 0.03-0.14; Cu 0.05-0.24 to Ni 0.05-0.27. Apart from Zn that varied distinctly (

Heavy metals levels in surface waters and sediments in an oilfield in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Heavy metal levels in the surface waters and sediments from five sampling stations of the Bukuma oilfield, in the Niger Delta, Nigeria were investigated using the AAS technique after standard procedures of storage and extraction. Mean range (mg/l) in the surface waters varied from Zn (0.19 0.64); Pb (ND 0.60); Cd (ND 0.07); Cu (ND - 0.20) to Ni (ND 0.5). Relatively high values (µg/g in dry wt.) were recorded in the sediment samples as follows: Zn (0.18-5.99); Pb (ND 0.68); Cd (ND -0.48); Cu (ND 0.83) to Ni (ND 0.63). The levels of the metals (except Pb) differed significantly (