Abstract

The Rivers Doma, Farinruwa and Mada are important rivers in Nasarawa State, Nigeria especially with regard to domestic use, irrigation and aquatic food. Levels of sodium, potassium, nickel, copper, magnesium, iron, calcium, zinc, lead, cadmium, arsenic, selenium, chromium and manganese were determined in samples of sediment and water collected from different points of the three rivers at two distinct seasons (dry and wet) using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that calcium had the highest concentration in sediment and water samples for both seasons. It was found that the cadmium, arsenic and selenium were completely not within the detection limit of AAS for all the water samples for dry and wet seasons. The results further revealed that Ni, Fe, Pb, and Mn concentrations in all the water samples are above the deleterious level based on the standard limits set by World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water. However, source protection is proposed for these bodies of water for the benefit of mankind, because they were not fit for human consumption.

Key words: River-water, sediments, metal, AAS.