International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies ISSN 2028-9324 Vol. 20 No. 2 May. 2017, pp. 601-608 © 2017 Innovative Space of Scientific Research Journals http://www.ijias.issr-journals.org/ Corresponding Author: Joseph Aderinola Oluwatoyin 601 OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY METALS IN SURFACE WATER, SEDIMENT AND SOME AQUATIC ORGANISMS SAMPLED FROM OLOGE LAGOON, AGBARA, LAGOS, NIGERIA Joseph Aderinola Oluwatoyin 1 , Victor Kusemiju 1 , A.A. Adu 2 , and O.O. Babalola 1 1 Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria 2 Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Lagos State University, Lagos Nigeria Copyright © 2017 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT: The present study, some heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Zn and Pb) were determined in water, sediment and some tissues of Parachanna obscura, Cardisoma amarantum, Peanus monodon and Helix aspersa from Ologe Lagoon which is situated in the Agbara Industrial Estate section of Lagos State, Nigeria. This is important because it is open to surrounding industries which deposit their wastes into it. The samplings of the specimens and water matrix were done as describe by American Public Health Association procedure. The samples after treatment were taken to the laboratory for the determination of heavy metal levels in water, sediment and organisms samples by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) as described by American Public Health Association. The obtained results showed that the average values Alkalinity, BOD Dissolved Oxygen and Fe in water samples were higher than the recommended values for fresh water as stated by W.H.O. Results for levels in water were compared with national and international water quality guidelines. The analysis of heavy metals in sediments indicated that among the six heavy metals tested Fe was maximally accumulated, followed by Zn Cu, Cr, Pb and Cd. The organisms showed bioaccumulation in the following pattern: Fe > Zn > Cu > Cr > Cd > Pb. In the Crab samples, cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead concentrations exceeded the tolerable values provided by international institutions. (Maximum values; Fe - 874.00 mg/g, Cu – 1.71 mg/kg, Pb – 0.02mg/kg, Cd – 0.01mg/kg, Zn – 13.78 mg/kg) and minimum bioaccumulation was recorded in the fish fry (Fe - 135.1mg/kg, Cu 0.45mg/kg, Cr 0.02mg/g, Pb 0.01mg/kg, Cd – 0.01mg/kg, Zn – 3.85mg/kg). The values recorded in this study revealed that apart from Cd, Cr, Pb and Cu the Fe and Zn were present in proportions that calls for concern. And for the rest left, even if their concentrations are not in worrying amounts now, over time the continuous intake into the body of living organisms would result in bio-accumulation of these metals and this may have injurious long term effects on both the environment and the organisms. In light of this study it is reasonable to deduce that fish obtained from Ologe Lagoon is unsafe if it is to be eaten by humans. Baring this discovery, appropriate agencies should be called into action to check these substances as soon as possible. KEYWORDS: Ologe lagoon, heavy metals, Pollution, Crabs, fish, Prawn, surface water and Sediments. 1 INTRODUCTION Ologe lagoon is a deep freshwater river along Baadagry Express-way in Lagos, Nigeria. The lagoon is of economic importance to the indigenes of Agbara, Ijanikin and the Agbara Industrial Estate that surround the water. Consequently, the people around the lagoon were able to use the lagoon for various purposes such as fishing, sand mining, and other domestic uses. The lagoon empties into Badagry creek which eventually empties into Lagos lagoon and finally into the Atlantic Ocean. The lagoon receives copious amounts of wastes from industries and abattoirs sited around its course. Industrial discharge structures can release large volumes of effluent containing a variety of potentially harmful substances into the aquatic environment. Metals and other trace elements are common byproducts of industrial processes and as a consequence are anticipated to be components of typical industrial waste streams that may enter the aquatic environment (Kennish