18 research outputs found
Bioaccumulation Of Heavy Metals In The Catfish Chrysicthys Nigrodigitatus From Taylor Creek, Southern Nigeria
The discharge of liquid effluents either untreated or with only primary treatment into Etelebou Creek, a tributary of Taylor Creek has led to the extensive contamination of Taylor Creek by heavy metals. The catfish species, C. nigrodigitatus and other environmental segments were collected from five sites along Taylor Creek, southern Nigeria, and some metals determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The concentration levels of the metals in C. nigrodigitatus were higher than values reported in the literature for fresh fish and may lead to a higher risk and harmful effects. The bivariate regression models relating metals in C. nigrodigitatus and metals in the surface waters were significant (R2 ≥ 0.7134). The Log (bio-concentration factors or BCF) of Cr and Zn in C. nigrodigitatus were the highest, whereas Ni was the lowest. The ecological distribution of the log (BCF) values was, for all the heavy metals, moderately stable over the Creek. All log-transformed biomagnification factors (BMF) in the Creek were positive, which indicates that the metal concentration was higher in C. nigrodigitatus than in suspended particulate matter (SPM). The absolute log (BMF) values of heavy metals can therefore be ranked in order of decreasing magnitude: Fe (4.06) > Zn (2.87) > Mn (2.59) > Cr (1.95) > Pb (1.90) > Ni (1.82) > Cd (1.55). This sequence indicates that toxic metals such as Cd, Cr and Pb are undergoing significant bio-reduction from SPM to C. nigrodigitatus. The degree ofcorrelation between the metals was different in C. nigrodigitatus, which suggests that the sources of the metals, polluting Taylor Creek were diverse
Occurrence and Diagenetic Evolution of Perylene in the Sediments of Oginigba Creek, Southern Nigeria
Perylene and penta-aromatic hydrocarbons were determined in sediments
as part of a study that was dedicated to the aquatic ecosystem of
Oginigba Creek (southern Nigeria) in order to carry out a critical
corroboration of occurrence and diagenetic evolution of perylene in the
sediments of the creek. The results show that the annual mean levels of
perylene ranged from 396.27- 507.19 mg/g dry weight at the various
Stations. The observed values for total penta-aromatic hydrocarbons
werehigh (867.3 - 1243.14mg/g dryweight) in all the stations sampledOne
origin index or concentration ratio of Ip/Ip+BghiP was also used to
evaluate the suitability of the penta-aromatic hydrocarbons as a tracer
to distinguish between contaminations arising from different sources.
The values for the sampling stations therefore ranged from 0.41 to0.81.
Acritical appraisal of the PAH index, consequently, suggested that
petroleum combustion is the major penta-aromatic hydrocarbon source in
the sediments of the creek. The PAH group profile shows that perylene
was high in the sediments and would pose apparent effects in fauna. The
high concentration of perylene in the sediments was also indicative of
an in situ biogenic derivation. Furthermore, a concentration of
perylene ≥ 31.88% of total penta-aromatic hydrocarbons
established a credible diagenetic origin
Preliminary assessment of trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments
Total concentrations of Cd, Cr, Co, Fe, Pb, Ni, Mn and Zn were
determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the surface
sediments of Taylor Creek, Southern Nigeria. The most concentrated
trace metals, ranging from 113.2 to 5160.7 mg/g-dry weights were Fe,
Pb, Mn, Ni and Zn. There was no significant variation in
sediment-associated metal levels (P>0.05). The Metal Pollution Index
(MPI) was highest at Agbia/Nedugo and is attributed to local
contamination of the Creek. The concentrations of low molecular weight
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were also detected and
quantified in the sediments by capillary gas chromatography equipped
with a flame ionization detector. The concentration levels of
178.1-1266.3 mg/g-wet weights were high for the PAHs. The results
indicate that the pollutants, which are bio-accumulatable, could
contribute to inferior biodiversity, and shifts in community
composition from sensitive to tolerant taxa
Relationships Between Heavy Metals in Shrimp ( Macrobrachium felicinum ) and Metal Levels in The Water Column and Sediments of Taylor Creek
Heavy metals in the aquatic environment have todate originated
fundamentallyfrom naturally occurring geochemical resources.
Nonetheless, this has been enhanced by anthropogenic activities
resulting in pollution. Consequently, relationships and partitioning of
heavy metals in the dissolved phase, suspended particulate matter
(SPM), sediments and shrimp ( Macrobrachium felicinum ) were
investigated in five selected sites along Taylor creek, southern
Nigeria. The degree of relationships between the various metals was
dissimilar in each of the investigated matrices. In the matrices
studied, not several significant relationships (P<0.05) were
obtained. Only Ni-Cd (r=0.95), Mn-Cd (r=0.63), Mn-Ni (r=0.64) were
associated in the sediments and in SPM, Zn-Ni (r=0.72), which suggests
that the sources were not common for both matrices. In the dissolved
phase, no strong relationships (P<0.05) between the heavy metals
were obvious. The best relationships were observed for Ni-Zn (r=0.72)
and Cd-Pb (r=0.65). Partitioning coefficients (Kd) of heavy metals
between dissolved phase and SPM were generally low, which is typical
for fresh water ecosystems and fairly stable over the creek all through
the seasons. Furthermore, the bio-concentration factors (BCFs) of
Macrobrachium felicinum were low unlike those of other natural waters.
Thus, the physical state of the aquatic ecosystem points to the fact
that the heavy metals bio-accumulated by Macrobrachium felicinum give
cause for concern when viewed in perspective to community health
issues, as the communities along the creek depend directly on shrimps
as a protein source
Influence of vehicular density on the distribution pattern of lead and cadmium in road dust of Port Harcourt city, Nigeria
No Abstract.International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 4 (1) 2008: pp. 29-3
Composition and source diagnostics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from Elelenwo Creek, southern Nigeria
The survey of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their relation to potential pollution sources was carried out in sediments from Elelenwo Creek, southern Nigeria. Total PAH concentrations varied from 4238.00 to 5490.84 Bg/g dry weights in sediments. The 2, 3-ring PAHs were not dominant in sediments (22.43%). Of the 2, 3-ring PAHs, the most abundant in the sediments was acenaphthylene. Four origin indices or concentration ratios of PAH isomer pairs were used to evaluate the suitability of these compounds as tracers to distinguish between the contamination arising from different sources. A critical appraisal of PAH indices, therefore, suggested that combustion processes were the sources of PAH in the sediments. Relative PAH patterns in sediments were also evaluated using principal component analysis, and were found to correlate with the PAH patterns of the different potential contamination sources. This indicates that the PAHs, which are bioaccumulatable, possibly will impact on fauna.Keywords: Creek, sediments, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, fauna, Nigeri
Temporal trends of heavy metals in shrimps (Macrobrachium macrobrachion) from a non-tidal freshwater ecosystem
No Abstract.International Journal of Tropical Agriculture and Food Systems Vol. 2 (1) 2008: pp. 60-6
Survey of heavy metals in the catfish Synodontis clarias
Elevated levels of heavy metals in the catfish Synodontis clarias can
be a good indication of pollution of an aquatic ecosystem due to
anthropogenic influence. The concentrations of Zn, Cd, Pb, Mn and Ni
were determined in Synodontis clarias caught along a section of Taylor
Creek and its associated tributaries. Samples were collected bimonthly
between July 1999 and June 2000 in five stations. The metals: Zn, Cd,
Ni, Pb and Mn were recorded in appreciable quantities, signifying their
bioavailability. The levels of Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb and Mn may have obvious
health implications on the rural communities that depend on fish
species as fish supplement in view of its rich protein content and its
bio-economic value. Generally, the sources of the metals in the catfish
appear to be point and diffuse which include rural and agricultural
runoff sources in the catchments area. However, the presence of an oil
industry activity (Etelebou oil field and flow station) in one of its
tributaries appears to be the major point source of the metal
pollutants
Partitioning Characteristics of Heavy Metals in a Non-Tidal Freshwater Ecosystem
Trace metals in the aquatic environment have to date come essentially
from naturally occurring geochemical resources. However, this has been
enhanced by anthropogenic activities resulting in pollution.
Consequently, correlations and partitioning of trace metals in the
dissolved phase, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments were
investigated in five selected sites along the Taylor Creek, southern
Nigeria. The degree of correlations between the various metals was
different in each of the investigated matrices. In the matrices
studied, not many significant correlations (P<0.05) were recognized.
Only Ni-Cd (r=0.95), Mn-Cd (r=0.63), Mn-Ni (r=0.64) are correlated in
the sediments and in SPM, Fe-Cr (r=0.54) and Zn-Ni (r=0.72), which
suggests that the sources are not common for both matrices. In the
dissolved phase, no strong correlations (P<0.05) between the trace
metals are obvious. The best correlations are observed for Ni-Zn
(r=0.72) and Cd-Pb (r=0.65). Partitioning coefficients (Kd) of trace
metals between dissolved phase and SPM aregenerally low, which is
typical for fresh water ecosystems and fairly stable over the creek all
through the seasons. Thus, the state of the aquatic ecosystem indicates
that the trace metals, which are bio-accumulatable, could contribute to
inferior biodiversity and shifts in community composition from
sensitive to tolerant taxa
Identification of perylene in sediments: Occurrence and diagenetic evolution
Perylene and penta-aromatic hydrocarbons were determined in sediments
as part of a study that was dedicated to the aquatic ecosystem of
Elelenwo Creek (Southern Nigeria) in order to carry out a critical
corroboration of occurrence and diagenetic evolution of perylene in the
sediments of the creek. The results show that the annual mean levels of
Benzo [g, h, i] Perylene ranged from 209.00 – 245.28 μg/kg
dry weight at the various stations sampled. Meanwhile, Station 3
recorded the highest mean level of 245.28 μg/kg dry weight. The
observed values for total penta-aromatic hydrocarbons were high (787.00
-1154.36μg/kg dry weight) in all the stations sampled. In
addition, the highest mean value of 1154.36μg/kg dry weight was
again recorded at station 3 for the penta-aromatic hydrocarbons. One
origin index or concentration ratio of Ip/Ip+BghiP was also used to
evaluate the suitability of the penta-aromatic hydrocarbons as a tracer
to distinguish between contaminations arising from different sources.
The values for the sampling stations therefore ranged from 0.41 to
0.43. A critical appraisal of the PAH index, consequently, suggested
that petroleum combustion is the major penta-aromatic hydrocarbon
source in sediments of the creek. The PAH group profile shows that
perylene was high in the sediments and would pose apparent effects in
fauna. The high concentration of perylene in the sediments was also
indicative of an in situ biogenic derivation. Furthermore, a
concentration of perylene > 10 % of total penta-aromatic
hydrocarbons established a credible diagenetic origin