Heavy metals levels in surface waters and sediments in an oilfield in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

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Heavy metal levels in the surface waters and sediments from five sampling stations of the Bukuma oilfield, in the Niger Delta, Nigeria were investigated using the AAS technique after standard procedures of storage and extraction. Mean range (mg/l) in the surface waters varied from Zn (0.19 0.64); Pb (ND 0.60); Cd (ND 0.07); Cu (ND - 0.20) to Ni (ND 0.5). Relatively high values (µg/g in dry wt.) were recorded in the sediment samples as follows: Zn (0.18-5.99); Pb (ND 0.68); Cd (ND -0.48); Cu (ND 0.83) to Ni (ND 0.63). The levels of the metals (except Pb) differed significantly (P