1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Science, Rivers State University of Science &Technology Nkpolu, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
2Department of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, University of Port Harcourt Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
American Journal of Environmental Protection.
2014,
Vol. 2 No. 2, 37-40
DOI: 10.12691/env-2-2-2
Copyright © 2014 Science and Education PublishingCite this paper: Onwuli. Donatus O., Ajuru Gospel, Holy Brown, Amadi. Fynface C. The concentration of Lead in Periwinkle (Tympanotonosfuscatus) and River sediments in Eagle Island River, Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria.
American Journal of Environmental Protection. 2014; 2(2):37-40. doi: 10.12691/env-2-2-2.
Correspondence to: Onwuli. Donatus O., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Science, Rivers State University of Science &Technology Nkpolu, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Email:
onwuli.donatus@yahoo.comAbstract
In this study, the concentrations of Lead (Pb) in periwinkles (Tympanotonosfuscatus) and river sediments and were determined from 25 sampling stations in Eagle Island River in Port Harcourt Rivers State, Nigeria, using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The mean ±SD concentrations of Pb in periwinkles and sediments are 0.91±0.54 mg/Kg and 0.22±0.19 mg/Kg respectively. The mean concentrations of the heavy metal Pb is higher in periwinkle than in sediment (p<0.05). The results obtained from this analysis in periwinkle also showed that it exceeded the tolerable values in fish (aquatic organism). The correlation coefficient between Pb in sediment and that in periwinkle is 61.5%. The result of this study shows that sea foods obtained from this river is a potential source heavy metal poisoning. This calls for adequate legislation to protect the water bodies from heavy metal poisoning.
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