Analysis of Hydrocarbon and Heavy Metal Load in Fishes and Waters in Coastal Islands

This study entitled ‘’Analysis of Hydrocarbon and Heavy Metal Load in Fishes and Waters in coastal island’’ gives an explicit analysis for physico-chemical properties, heavy metals and total hydrocarbon content (THC) for water samples gotten from mangrove environment as well as determining the levels of heavy metals in fishes (Clarias Gariepinus and E.fimbriata) collected from Iko, Emeroke and Okoroette Rivers. The physical variables investigated in the course of this studywere:- Temperature, Electrical Conductivity and Turbidity while the chemical variables were;- pH, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solid, total suspended solid, total hardness, biochemical oxygen demand, total hardness, iron, sulphate, zinc, nitrate, potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, cobalt, in addition to Total hydrocarbon content (THC). In a bid to understand the status of petroleum contamination in mangrove ecosystem, total petroleum content was determined from water samples using standard scientific procedures. Six heavy metals: cadmium, chromium, copper, arsenic, lead and mercury were taken into concentration. Seasonal variations of the various variables were taken into cognizance to ascertain whether changes in seasons affect chemical concentration in aquatic system. As compared with World Health Organisation standard, out of 29 tested parameters including THC, the result of water samples for bothdry and wet season,14parameters were above permissible limits while 15 were below. Specifically, the value of hydrocarbon (THC) was above permissible limits in all the water samples. Meanwhile, the values for heavy metals in fishes were above permissible limit except copper whose value was slightly below permissible limit for both season in the three sampled locations. The result so far obtained calls for urgent attention to save the lives of fishes and surface water in oil producing areas of Akwa Ibom State.