Assessment of Heavy Metals in Tympanotonus Fuscatus and Baccinum Undatum from Okuru-Ama Community, Rivers State

Akuru UB and Ngowari HT

Published on: 2023-10-28

Abstract

Many sea foods have been consumed over the years with little knowledge of the health risks involved due to the pollution of the water bodies here in Nigeria. One of the most consumed sea foods in Rivers State are Tympanotonus fuscatus (periwinkles) and Baccinum undatum (ngolo), as they are used for many delicacies, especially in native soups. This research work is aimed at determining the levels of heavy metals (iron, nickel, lead, zinc, and copper) in Tympanotonus fuscatus and Baccinum undatum from the Okuru-ama community. The samples were collected from three different stations, that is, station 1, station 2, and station 3, and the heavy metal concentration was determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis at p ≤ 0.05. The concentration of zinc and iron in periwinkle flesh in stations 2 and 3 (Zinc: 7.39±0.68 mg/kg, 8.19±0.12 mg/kg and iron: 38.61±13.27 mg/kg, 58.14±15.9 mg/kg for stations 2 and 3 respectively) was significantly higher than station 1 (Zinc 0.47±0.01 mg/kg and iron 6.01±0.72 mg/kg respectively), while for Ngolo flesh, the concentration of zinc and iron for station 1 (Zinc 9.40±0.18 mg/kg and iron 44.24±8.50 mg/kg respectively) was significantly higher than station 2 and 3 (Zinc: 0.46±0.14 mg/kg, 5.8±0.53 mg/kg and iron: 5.66±0.35 mg/kg, 9.18±2.65 mg/kg for station 2 and 3 respectively). The concentration of lead and nickel in all samples was below the detection limit (BDL). The results obtained depict the extent of pollution of the water body in Okuru-ama community; hence, regulations should be put in place to reduce the extent of pollution, as this directly affects the concentrations of heavy metals in aquatic organisms obtained from Okuru-ama community.