title: Distribution of heavy metals in sediments of Mwanza Gulf of Lake Victoria, Tanzania.
abstract: Sediment samples were analyzed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg and Zn by AAS. The highest concentrations (ppm) for Cu (26.1+/-4.8), Hg (0.2+/-0.05), Pb (30.7+/-5.6) and Zn (45.4+/-13.1) were found at approximately 25 m from the shoreline. Generally, heavy metals concentration in the sediment decreased with increasing distance from the shoreline except for Cd and Cr whose highest concentrations were found at approximately 2000 m from the shoreline. The data also indicated that sediment samples which were collected at the shores within the urban area of Mwanza showed elevated levels of Pb (54.6+/-11.1 ppm) and Zn (83.7+/-21.5 ppm). However, the highest concentrations of Cd (7.0+/-2.1 ppm), Cr (12. 9+/-1.0 ppm) and Hg (2.8+/-0.8 ppm) were recorded at sampling stations which were adjacent to river mouths.
authors.affiliation: Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, P.O. Box 475, Mwanza, Tanzania. maria_kishe@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kishe
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Machiwa
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D013636:Tanzania; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy