V1I9P8

Assessing Heavy Metal Pollution in Coastal Ecosystems of West Africa: A Case Study of the Lagos Coastline, Nigeria

Jelil Olaoye^1*, Taiwo Bakare-Abidola², Faith Chinaza Osuji³, John Abunimye Ushie⁴, Nwachukwu Onwuchekwa⁵, Chioma Onwuchekwa⁶

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution in coastal ecosystems remains a pressing environmental concern due to its impact on aquatic life and human health. This study assessed heavy metal concentrations in water and sediment samples collected from selected coastal regions, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for precise quantification. The methodology involved systematic sampling at multiple sites, followed by contamination factor analysis to evaluate pollution severity. The results revealed elevated concentrations of lead (Pb) (42.3 mg/kg), cadmium (Cd) (6.8 mg/kg), and mercury (Hg) (1.2 mg/kg) in sediment samples, exceeding environmental safety thresholds, while water samples showed Pb at 0.09 mg/L, Cd at 0.015 mg/L, and Hg at 0.005 mg/L, surpassing WHO permissible limits. Spatial analysis indicated that industrially influenced areas exhibited the highest contamination levels. These findings highlight the urgent need for regulatory interventions and ecological restoration measures to mitigate heavy metal pollution in coastal environments.

Keywords:

Heavy metal pollution, coastal ecosystems, Lagos, Nigeria, water contamination, sediment analysis, bioaccumulation, environmental impact, ICP-MS, marine pollution.