Evaluation of Metal Pollutants and Bioaccumulation Factors in Macrobrachium macrobrachium and Sarotherodon melanotheron from Porto-Novo Lagoon, Benin Republic

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue III, March 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

Evaluation of Metal Pollutants and Bioaccumulation Factors in Macrobrachium macrobrachium and Sarotherodon melanotheron from Porto-Novo Lagoon, Benin Republic

Olusola Adeniyi Babalola*

Department of Fisheries Technology, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria
*Corresponding author

Abstract: – Significant distribution of metal pollutants and bioaccumulation factors in Macrobrachium macrobrachium and Sarotherodon melanotheron from Porto-Novo lagoon ecosystem was studied during two hydrological periods. Metal pollutants such as Hg, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni, Va, and Methyl mercury were found in measurable quantities in the test animals using AAS equipment for analyses and are found to be above regulatory agency permissible limits. Tissues and organs of M. macrobrachium had less than 1.00 bioaccumulation factors in Cd, Fe, Mn, Ni, and MH₃Hg while bioaccumulation  factors greater than 1.00 are found in Hg, Cu, Zn, Cr, Va, and Pb . Tissue and organs of  S. melanotheron had less than1.00 bioaccumulation factor in Hg, Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni, and MH₃Hg while, Cr and Va had greater than 1.00 BF. There is a significant difference in the means of metal pollutants in the tissues and organs of M. macrobrachium during dry season at 5% level of significance. There is no significant difference in the means of metal pollutants in the tissues and organs of S. melanotheron at 5% level of significance in both seasons. The results indicate that M.  macrobrachium and S. melanotheron from Porto-Novo lagoon bio-accumulate metal pollutants that are detrimental to human health s well as affecting the physiology of these test animals in the Porto-Novo lagoon ecosystem. It is therefore recommended that Porto-Novo lagoon should be put on National Priority List for adequate revamping.

Keywords – Metal, Pollutants, Macrobrachium macrobrachium,  Sarotherodon, melanotheron  Porto-Novo

I. INTRODUCTION

One of the major environmental challenges the world is facing at the moment is that of ecological degradation with the attendant increase in the release of pollutants to the environment that is momentarily instigating irreversible damage to the earth. Environmental pollution has been on increase over the recent years as a result of population explosion, the industrial revolution and the aesthetic lifestyle brought about by innovation and technological advancement. These, however opened the floodgate of pollution and introduced lethal substances into the environment beyond the capacity the environment can curtail [2].

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