ABSTRACT
Lagos lagoon is a highly polluted water body; which receives enormous amount of domestic and industrial wastes from rivers and streams. In this study; two main Lagos urban rivers Odo-Iyaalaro and Shasha rivers that receive industrial effluents and empty into the Lagos Lagoon were examined. The sediments at the bottom of waters play a role in the study of pollution in the rivers. Upstream of Odo-Iyaalaro River (Point 1) receives the largest volume of effluents and showed the highest level of heavy metals in sediments with concentrations of 108.3mg/l for Pb; 805mg/l for Zn; 94.5mg/l for Cu; 31mg/l for Cr and 42.1 mg/l for Cd. Down the river; the levels decreased to 25mg/l for Pb; 64.5 mg/l for Zn; 22mg/l for Cu; 15.9 mg/l for Cr and 1.9 mg/l for Cd. A good correlation was found to exist between the level of Zn in water and sediment; and also between the CEC andsilt-clay of sediments. Shasha River receives relatively fewer amounts of industrial effluents; but is relatively the main receptacle for municipal and land-based waste. The levels of heavy metals in Shasha River were lower compared with that of Odo-Iyaalaro River; with the upstream points showing concentrations of 20.5mg/l for Pb; 25.3mg/l for Zn; 7.9mg/l for Cu; 30.8 mg/l for Cr and 1.5mg/l for Cd. A good correlation exists between the CEC and all the metals determined; and between theorganic carbon and all the metals determined. Compared with literature data; the results of heavy metals gave an indication of pollution