Abstract
IntroductionOsun River dissecting the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, though inscribed on the World Heritage List, has been rarely assessed for biodiversity values or ecotoxicology. In this study, we investigated the concentrations of Cu and Zn in the benthic sediments and two dominant gastropod species (Melanoides tuberculata and Lanistes varicus) of the Osun River. Benthic sediment and gastropod samples were collected on quarterly basis from June 2015 to March 2016 along the longitudinal stretch of the river. Dry samples were digested and analysed for Cu and Zn using the atomic absorption spectrophotometry.ResultsWith the exception of September sampling period, the two metals recorded higher values in the animals than in the sediments. Cu (1.23 ± 0.81 μg/g) was much lower (p < 0.01) than zinc (6.29 ± 2.15 μg/g) in the benthic sediments. In the same vein, Cu was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than Zn in both species. Both metals recorded much lower values than their average concentrations in the Earth’s crust as well as the recommended limits for freshwater life. Comparatively, L. varicus recorded higher bioaccumulation factor than M. tuberculata.ConclusionsFindings from this study suggest that both metals posed no toxicological risk to the freshwater system of Osun River. Concentrations of both metals in the sediments as well as their accumulation factors in both gastropod species were indicative of an unimpacted freshwater system.
Highlights
Osun River dissecting the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, though inscribed on the World Heritage List, has been rarely assessed for biodiversity values or ecotoxicology
Findings from this study suggest that both metals posed no toxicological risk to the freshwater system of Osun River
Concentrations of both metals in the sediments as well as their accumulation factors in both gastropod species were indicative of an unimpacted freshwater system
Summary
Osun River dissecting the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, though inscribed on the World Heritage List, has been rarely assessed for biodiversity values or ecotoxicology. We investigated the concentrations of Cu and Zn in the benthic sediments and two dominant gastropod species (Melanoides tuberculata and Lanistes varicus) of the Osun River. Persistent bioaccumulative toxicants (PBTs) are ubiquitous despite bans or regulated use and are highly toxic and extremely persistent in aquatic environments (Muir and de Wit 2010; Ray and McCormick-Ray 2014). They include the heavy metals and organo-metal compounds. This study seeks to assess the level of two PBTs (i.e. Cu and Zn) in the river system which drains the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS). If biodiversity/natural value of the WHS must be conserved, it is very important to monitor
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