Assessment of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Tympanotonus Fuscatus of Escravos Estuary, Niger Delta, Nigeria
Ewutanure SJ and Adeniyi OA*
ABSTRACT
Surface water pollution is associated with an increased volume of effluent from both geogenic and anthropogenic origins. Information on the impacts of heavy metals (HM) on the fauna species of the Escravos Estuary (EE) is limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the levels of HM in the stomach and muscles of Tympanotonus fuscatus (T. fascatus). Spatially, the EE was stratified into three stations (D1, D2, D3) based on fish landing sites, while monthly stratification covered February to May 2024. The T. fascatus samples were collected from the intertidal zone. The stomach and muscle contents of T. fuscatus were harvested and preserved in Bouin’s fluid. Samples were digested, and concentrations of HM (Pb, Fe, Cr, and Al) in T. fuscatus (mg/Kg) were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at α=0.05. Spatially, the significantly highest Pb level in the stomach of T. fuscatus ranged from 0.31±0.11 mg/Kg in D1 to 0.53±0.10 mg/Kg in D3. Monthly, February recorded the lowest Pb concentration as 0.18±0.01 mg/Kg, while April recorded the highest as 0.51±0.13 mg/Kg. For Chromium (Cr) in the muscles of T. fuscatus, the highest concentration was recorded in March as 0.49±0.12 mg/Kg, while the lowest was in April as 0.42±0.23 mg/Kg. The relatively higher concentrations of Pb and Cr compared to established limits pose warning signals and could threaten the survival of T. fuscatus in the Escravos Estuary. These results can serve as a baseline reference for further studies.
