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Temporal variation and distribution of trace metals in freshwater and fish from Calabar River, S.E. Nigeria

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Abstract

An investigation on the abundance and distribution of trace metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Cd and Pb) in water, and nine species of fish samples from Calabar river was carried out in 1992. The concentrations of iron (6000–7240 μg l−1), zinc (4910–7230 μg l−1), and cadmium (3–7 μg l−1) showed moderate pollution while those of copper (420–630 μg l−1), manganese (23–48 μg l−1), chromium (< 10–20 μg l−1) and lead (< 1–10 μg l−1) in water were well below WHO permissible levels. Significant seasonal changes (0.001 ≥ p ≤ 0.25) were obtained for iron, copper, zinc, manganese and cadmium in water. Furthermore, iron, zinc and cadmium showed statistically significant spatial changes (0.005 ≥ p ≤ 0.10). Of the nine fish species studied, no statistically significant relationship between body weight and the concentrations of the metals was observed. The concentrations of the metals per mean total body weight apparently decreases in the order Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Pb > Cd = Cr and were within the limits that were safe for consumption.

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  1. B. O. Ekpo
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  2. U. J. Ibok
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Ekpo, B.O., Ibok, U.J. Temporal variation and distribution of trace metals in freshwater and fish from Calabar River, S.E. Nigeria. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 21, 51–66 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006544711923

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