This study focused on Bioacummulation of Persistent Environmental Pollutants (PEPs) in Blue Crabs and Prawns from the Ogu Creek, Upper Bonny Estuary, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to determine the presence and levels of trace elements and petroleum hydrocarbons in tissues of crab and prawn in the study area; determine spatial variations in concentrations of some trace elements and hydrocarbons in the organisms; comparison of the concentrations of the trace elements and hydrocarbons in the tissues of the organisms; and determination of Hazard/Toxicity Quotient (HQ/TQ) of selected trace elements and hydrocarbons in the organisms. The Analysis of Variance and Duncan Mighty Root Test were used to analyze tissue accumulation variations, student?s t-test was used to analyze variations in the different organisms and correlationships between tissue accumulations and ambient water/sediment matrix was analyzed using Pearson?s correlation at p<0.05. This study reveals that bioaccumulation of trace elements and hydrocarbons in the prawn, Macrobrachium malcolmsonii and blue crab, Callinectes sapidus occurred. Accumulations of the trace elements at p=0.05 (Zn=0.000, Cr=0.052, Cd=0.000, Pb=0.000, Fe=0.000 and Mn=0.000) and hydrocarbons (TPH=0.000, PAHs=0.000, and phenol=0.000) differed according to location and only (Cr=0.023 and Cd=0.048) differed in tissues sampled; with higher accumulations in impacted than reference locations, and in the head, internal organs, and digestive tissues, than in muscles and ovary. Accumulations of all the elements in many of the tissues sampled were above regulatory limits in edible aquatic foods. It is recommended that the environmental protection agencies for pollution control should ensure further bioaccumulation assessments on biota in water column and sediments of the creek.

Bioaccumulation

Persistent Environmental Pollutants

Aquatic Organisms

Ogu Creek