Authors: Oluwabamise L. Faboya, Olatunbosun S. Sojinu, Oluwadayo O. Sonibare
Canadian Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences, Vol 6, No. 3, pp. 2169-2174, October 2012

Abstract
The concentrations, source and contamination status olf heavy metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu,Zn, Pb and Cd) in surface sediments of rivers and canals in the oil producing area of the Niger Delta were investigated.

The average concentrations of individual metals ranged from 0.09 to 19.0 ug/g and 0.11 to 24.2 ug/g in rivers and canals sediment samples respectively. All the metals studied have very low Enrichment factor (EF) which indicated a natural origin. An assessment using a set of widely cited sediments guidelines indicated that the levels of heavy metals concentrations in Niger Delta sediments do not pose any serious adverse risk to the ecosystem and human health. the concentration of metal in the samples were comparable to those of aquatic systems classified as uncontaminated from the regions of the world.

Keywords: Rivers, canals, ecosystem, enrichment factor, human health

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