Pollution Studies of Some Water Bodies in Lagos, Nigeria

Over the years, there has been an obvious pollution problem in Lagos area, Nigeria with high population of over eleven million and the near absence of waste management infrastructures. Concentrations of some pollution parameters and trace elements (temperature, pH, salinity, SO4 2-, NO3 -, PO4 3-, F-, DO, BOD, COD and coliform, Cr, Co, Ni, Ag, Cd and Pb) were determined from water bodies of Isolo Canal, Lagos lagoon and the Seaport in Lagos area, during the rainy season (July, August, September and October) of 2002. Temperature was fairly constant with a range of 26 – 31oC while salinity, SO4 2-, NO3 -, BOD, COD decreased in the three water bodies as the rains increased. DO and coliform counts increased, while F- was almost constant during the same period. Phosphate was below detection limit in all the water bodies. The concentrations of dissolved metals varied between the water bodies. The concentration of Pb was found to be highest in the Sea and Cd was not detected in all the water bodies. The concentrations of the Cr, Co, Ni and Ag varied differently with salinity in all the water bodies. Pb concentrations did not show any significant variation with salinity in all the water bodies.