BIOACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS IN CRUSTACEANS FROM ORON RIVER CHANNEL, OSUNG AREA ORON-CITY, AKWA-IBOM, NIGERIA

Abstract

Oron channel in Osung area of Oron city, Akwa-ibom state is one of the least explored and reported in the state. Bioaccumulation of some selected heavy metals in three crustaceans namely crabs, lobster, and shrimps were investigated. The annual values of the metals in mg/kg in the shrimps are chromium (3.55), copper (52.80), iron (75.25) and nickel (4.93) while lead, mercury, vanadium, and cobalt were not detected in the shrimps, lobsters and crabs. The corresponding values in mg/kg in lobsters are chromium (2.06), copper (48.55) and iron (23.56) while nickel was not detected. The respective values (mg/kg) in crab are chromium (6.38), copper (19.32), iron (60.07), and nickel (2.76). Shrimp and lobster showed high BF for copper i.e. (1257) and 1156 respectively while lobster showed high BF for iron (801). These results indicates that shrimp and lobster could be used as bio-indicators for copper levels in the water while lobster and crab could be used to bio-monitor iron and copper levels respectively. Overall the order of bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the crustaceans are lobsters> shrimps > crabs.  Keywords: Bioaccumulation factor, Biotransformation, Heavy Metals, Crustaceans