The pollution of coastal ecosystems as a result of
petroleum-related activities is increasing, and the literature
on occurrence, levels and seasonal dynamics of
petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments and biota from
the impacted areas of the Niger Delta, Nigeria, is practically
scanty. This study was set out to provide
information on the status of contamination by petroleum
hydrocarbons in Tympanotonus fuscatus var.
radula and sediments from Qua Iboe Estuary, Nigeria.
Analyses for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs)
were performed on Tympanotonus fuscatus var. radula
and sediment extracts using gas chromatograph with
flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Seventy-two samples
each of mangrove epipellic (intertidal) and benthic
(subtidal) sediments, and T. fuscatus var. radula were
analysed monthly between June 2003 and February
2004, covering peak periods of the wet and dry seasons.
Results revealed that the TPHs level in sediments
and T. fuscatus were highly variable. It ranged
between 18.01 ± 0.04 and 210.23 ± 1.18 μg g–1 dry wt
of epipellic sediment, 5.00 ± 0.82 and 232.00 ±
3.23 μg g–1 dry wt of benthic sediment and 9.40 ± 1.0
and 23.27 ± 1.0 μg g–1 dry wt of T. fuscatus. Summary
continuous descriptives and correlation analyses revealed
that TPH levels of the epipellic and benthic
sediments showed a significant relation (r = 0.54, CI =
0.18–0.78), and correlated with levels in T. fuscatus.
The overall levels of TPHs in the Qua Iboe Estuary
when compared to similar ecosystems with substantial
industrial and domestic coastal activities worldwide,
revealed a moderate to high level of mineral hydrocarbon
pollutio
