Bioaccumulation Of Trace Metals In Water Sediment And Crab Callinectes From Sombreiro River Niger Delta Nigeria.

Abstract Thetrace metal burden in surface water sub-tidal sediment and edible crab Callinectes in the lower brackish sea water reaches of the Sombreiro River was studied over a three month period. Sediments had a higher concentration of metals than water with the concentration ranging from 0.0220.006 340.66106.21mgkg and 0.0020.001 0.990.104 mgl respectively. It was revealed that Callinectes from the study area bioaccumulates all the heavy metals investigated from water and Cr Cu Ni and Zn from sediment. The concentration of all the heavy metals under investigation- Cr Cu Ni Cd Pb and Zn were below their stated limits in water and sediment however the metal body load of Cu Cr Ni Pb and Zn in the tissue of Callinectes were above their stated limits as such its consumption poses a health risk to consumers.