Volume 9 October 2004
ISSN 1438-7890 |
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African
Journal of Environmental Assessment and Management
Revue africaine de gestion et d’évaluation environnementales |
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DISTRIBUTION
OF HYDROCARBONS AND HEAVY METALS IN SEDIMENT AND A CRUSTACEAN
(shrimps – Penaeus notialis) FROM THE BONNY/NEW CALABAR
RIVER ESTUARY, NIGER
DELTA
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Alex
Chuks Chindah, Amabaraye Solomon Braide and Onyebuchi Cordelia
Sibeudu
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| Levels of hydrocarbons and heavy metals in sediment and a
crustacean (Shrimp – Penaeus notialis) along
Bonny/New Calabar River Estuary were studied to cover the two
dominant (wet -September 2000 and dry - January 2001) seasons, in
ten selected stations located in 3 main ecological zones along the
Bonny / New Calabar river estuary which lies between longitude 7o
00’ to 7o 15’ E and latitude 4o 25’ to 4o
45’N. Samples were collected and analyzed using appropriate tools
and methods. The results obtained showed the distribution of total
hydrocarbon concentration for sediment and Shrimp – Penaeus
notialis body
tissue for the three ecological zones a consistent longitudinal
sequence of Upper > lower > middle for wet and dry seasons
respectively. In addition, both sediment and organism (Shrimp – Penaeus
notialis) had total hydrocarbon and metal (Cr, Cd, V and Pb)
concentrations that demonstrated seasonal differences with
significant higher values in wet than in the dry season, except Zn
and Cu that showed a contrary pattern. Furthermore, indications of
hydrocarbon and metal bioaccumulation in organisms were observed.
The possible source of total hydrocarbon and metals in the body
tissue of the Shrimp – Penaeus notialis was highlighted by
this study.
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