TRACE METALS IN PERIWINKLE, TYMPANOTONLIS FLISCATL1S VAR. RADLILA FROM ELECHI CREEK, UPPER BONNY ESTUARY, NIGERIA0.A.DAVIES, U.U. GABRIEL AND T.B. KINGDOMAbstract The accumulation of three heavy metals(Iron, Fe, Copper, Cu and Zinc, Zn) in the water, sediments, soft tissues and shells of two-sized periwinkle Tympanotonus fuscatus var radula (25 -30 mm and 35-45 mm, shell length) from three different stations in Elechi Creek was studied. The water, sediments and periwinkles were randomly collected, processed and analysed for heavy metals and the results showed that Fe was most concentrated in water, sediments and periwinkle. The sediments accumulated most of these heavy metals while the soft tissues concentrated more heavy metals than the shells 9P>0.050 in both small and large periwinkles. Generally, the large periwinkles concentrated more heavy metals than the small ones. The pattern .of heavy metals in soft tissues arid shells was (Fe>Zn>Cu). The biological concentration factor (BCF) revealed that these periwinkles have high potential to concentrate heavy metals in their shells and soft tissues and this generally decreased with increasing metal concentration in the sediments. The soft tissues also had higher BCF values than shells. The concentrations of Fe and Cu in the soft tissues of these animals were above the recommended limits of this creek in order to achieve pollutant -free periwinkles for safe human health and good sediment quality for the aquatic biota.
Enter your contact information below to receive full paper.
|