Analytical Investigation of Pollutants in Coastal , Nigeria

This paper deals with pollution aspect of environmental management and monitoring of the continental shores of the Lagos Lagoon for its sustainable development. The water quality assessment of coastal waters, at the principal locations of the lagoon susceptible to high level of pollution in the Ebute-Metta and Eti-Osa axis of the Lagos Lagoon was performed. Assessment was undertaken according to different physical and chemical parameters including biological oxygen demand (BOD), Dissolved oxygen (DO), electric conductivity (EC), total suspended solids (TSS), Alkalinity, Acidity, Total hardness (TH), grease content, major cations and anions, and some heavy metals. Results showed that the Shores of the Lagos lagoon at the Iddo and C.M.S axis becomes progressively polluted by the waste materials discharged along its course. Thus, Lagoon at these locations currently faces a number of serious environmental and ecological challenges. Urbanization and high commercial activities at this axis of the Lagoon contributed to the water quality deterioration with regional consequences on the aquatic ecosystem and on the health of the down stream’s user groups. This synergetic effect is of concern for the sustainable use of the resources.