Abstract

Pollution of water bodies by natural and anthropogenic activities is on the increase and rendering water unsafe for aquatic biota and man. This study assessed the tropical pollution of Majidun Creek, Lagos, Nigeria. Fifteen sampling points were selected along the River course based on pollution hotspots or dump sites for water collection. Surface water samples were monthly collected between May, 2016 and April, 2017 and their physico-chemical parameters were analysed following standard procedures. Metal concentration in water and fish species per sampling point was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Physico-chemical parameters and metal concentrations data were subjected to descriptive statistics using SPSS. The physico-chemical parameters showed contrasting results in the sampling points. Temperature ( o C) varied between 27.90±0.53 and 28.70±0.47, pH ranged between 6.03±0.53 and 6.78±0.08, Conductivity (µScm -1 ) varied between 3470.31±1255.05 and 4415.42±1446.50, dissolved oxygen (mgL -1 ) ranged between 3.25±0.78 and 6.95±2.98, Salinity (‰) varied between 9.69±2.63 and 15.48±2.91, while total petroleum hydrocarbon (mgL -1 ) varied between 157.74±93.51 and 165.60±101.27. All these parameters except temperature and pH values were significantly different (p < 0.05) and within acceptable level for aquatic biota survival. The metal composition (mgL -1 ) of Majidun water showed Fe, Zn, Pb and Mn less than 1.0 and Cr range of 6.68±0.61 and 7.42±0.11, but higher than WHO standard, the condition which might be due to ecological variation, bioremediation and pollution. It was concluded that there were significant variations in quantification of physicochemical parameters and metal constituents in water and fish of Majidun creek, Nigeria.