An Evaluation of Heavy Metals Concentration in the Choba Section of the New Calabar River, Eastern Niger Delta

Heavy metals are dangerous because they tend to accumulate. Compounds accumulate in living things any time they are taken up and stored faster than they are broken down or extracted (metabolized). Heavy metals can enter the water supply by industrial or consumer waste or even from acidic rain breaking down soils and releasing heavy metals into streams, lakes, rivers and ground waters [1]. Although some heavy metals such as Manganese, iron, copper and zinc are essential micronutrients, other such as mercury, cadmium and lead are not required even in small amounts by any organisms [2]. Some heavy metals become a matter of concern because of their toxicity and tendency to accumulation in food chains. Fishes, mollusk or another aquatic life are located at the end of food chain may accumulate metals and pass them to the human being through food causing chronic or acute diseases [3]. Recent researchers have found that even low levels of mercury, cadmium, lead, aluminum and arsenic can cause a wide variety of health problems.