Trace Metals in Water, Sediment and Biota from Ikpukulu-Ama Creek Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

The concentrations of trace metals; Lead (Pb), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) and Cadmium (Cd) were determined in water, sediment and biota (Fish and plankton) from Ikpukulu-ama creek in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The metals were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrphotometer (AAS 500). Concentrations of metals in water were in the order of Cd<Cu<Pb<Zn<Fe, in sediments Cd<Cu<Pb<Zn<Fe, in fish Cd<Cu<Pb<Zn<Fe while in plankton the order of concentration were Cd=Pb<Cu<Zn<Fe. The mean concentrations of metals in surface water (mg/L) were 5.2, 0.83, 0.03, 0.46, and 0.01 for Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd respectively, in sediments (mg/g) the values were 16.0, 0.65, 0.09, 0.32, and 0.01 for the same metals. The mean concentrations of metals in fish (mg/g) were Fe (2.96), Zn (1.87), Cu (0.03), Pb (0.08) and Cd (<0.001), while for plankton (mg/L) were Fe (13.2), Zn (2.09), Cu (0.06), Pb (<0.001) and Cd (<0.001). The pollution index in the sediment was low. Trace metal concentrations in water, sediment and biota were below the maximum permissible levels recommended by National standard, but aquatic environment should be monitored regularly to avoid excess intake of metal into the water body.