Abstract
Background /Objectives: This study\'s objectives are (1) to determine the total hydrocarbon (THC) and heavy metals in sediment and water samples collected from mangrove forest at different locations; (2) to compare the THC and heavy metals across different mangrove associated species; (3) to compare the relationship between THC and heavy metals in different organisms across different locations and (4) to determine the THC and heavy metal concentration between vertebrates and invertebrate organisms in mangrove forest. Methods/ Statistical analysis: It is hypothesized that chemical contamination will bioaccumulate across multiple mangrove associated organisms. Physicochemical analysis for Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb), Iron (Fe) and total hydrocarbon (THC), was carried out on sediment, water, crabs, fish, insect, anadara and bird droppings, and was measured by spectrophotometric method using HACH DR 890 colorimeter and microwave accelerated reaction system (MARS Xpress, North Carolina). Findings: There was a significant difference in chemical composition between mangrove associated species (F4, 145 = 2.83, P=0.03). Anadara has the highest THC (36.44±9/4mg/kg) and Iron (6.97±1.32mg/kg) concentrations while bird droppings had the highest Lead concentration (10.83±1.27mg/kg). Fish had the highest Cadmium (4.20±1.01mg/kg) and Zinc (15.88±5.53mg/kg) concentrations. The order of organisms contamination is anadara>fish>bird droppings>crab>insect. The order of metal concentration is THC>Zn>Pb>Fe>Cd. In contrast, there was no significant difference between vertebrate and invertebrate organisms (F1, 148 = 0.08, P=0.78). Vertebrates have higher chemical composition (Cd, Pb and Zn) as compared to invertebrates (Fe and THC). Application/Improvement: Concentration of THC and heavy metals in most mangroves species were above the FAO/WHO standards. This implies that there is a horizontal THC and heavy metal contamination across trophic levels, which is detrimental to public health. Keywords: Bioaccumulation; heavy metals; invertebrates; Niger delta; pollution; vertebrates
Highlights
The Niger Delta region is found in the southern part of Nigeria and covers 20, 000 km2 within 70, 000 km2 of wetlands [1]
Sediment: The result ( Table 1 ) indicates that there is a significant difference among the chemical compositions (i.e. total hydrocarbon (THC) and heavy metal concentrations) in sediments (F4, 25 = 6.66, P< 0.001)
There was no significant difference in THC and heavy metal concentrations in sediment between locations (F2, 27 = 2.55, P=0.1)
Summary
The Niger Delta region is found in the southern part of Nigeria and covers 20, 000 km within 70, 000 km of wetlands [1]. Apart from the rich mangrove vegetation, it is rich in crude oil [3], which has made it the host to numerous oil and gas industries such as the Port Harcourt Refinery Company and the Liquified Natural Gas Company. Oil activities in this region have made it one of the most polluted mangrove forests in the world [4]. The study is significant because the major occupation of the people who live in the surrounding coastal towns of the Niger Delta is fishing They catch the fishes and consume or sell them to other consumers
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