The status of heavy metal pollutants of the Alaro River within the Oluyole
Industrial area in Ibadan Southwestern Nigeria was determined. The concentration and
bioconcentration of the lead, arsenic, chromium and cadmium were determined in water
and snail using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The level of heavy metals in
water detected in Papa and Odo-Ona streams was in the order of Chromium 0.063±
0.009mg mgL-1 >Lead 0.006 ± 0.004 mgL-1 > Cadmium 0.005 ± 0.003 mgL-1 >
Arsenic0.003 ± 0.001 mgL-1 and Chromium 0.078 ± 0.037 mgL-1 > Cadmium 0.005 ±
0.001 mgL-1 > Arsenic 0.005 ± 0.003 mgL-1 > Lead 0.004 ± 0.001 mgL-1 respectively.
However, there were no significant differences (p=0.65, 0.45, 1, 0.53) in the levels of
lead, arsenic, cadmium and chromium at the two points respectively at 95% confidence
limit. Heavy metals accumulated in in-dwelling snails in the order Chromium>Lead>
Arsenic > Cadmium for both Papa and Odo-ona stream. There were no significant
differences (p= 0.69, 0.24, 0.72, 0.71) in the levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium and
chromium at the two points respectively at 95% confidence limit. Bioconcentration factor
(BCF) of the heavy metals was in the order of Arsenic>Lead>Cadmium>Chromium and
Lead>Arsenic>Cadmium>Chromium for Papa and Odo-ona streams respectively.
Bioconcentration factor (6.5) of Lead in Odo-ona stream was significantly (P=0.05)
higher that the BCFs of other metals in both Papa and Odo-Ona streams. The Public
Health implication is discussed.