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Challenges in the Era of Globalization - iaabd

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Assessment <strong>of</strong> pollutants <strong>in</strong> nigerian coastal waters<br />

<strong>Challenges</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Era</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Globalization</strong><br />

Edited by Emmanuel Obuah<br />

Oguguah, N. M., Ngozimoguguah@yahoo.com<br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Zoology, Faculty <strong>of</strong> Biological Sciences, University <strong>of</strong> Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State,<br />

Nigeria<br />

Renner, K. O., k<strong>of</strong>irenner@yahoo.com<br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Biological Oceanography, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Mar<strong>in</strong>e Research<br />

Lagos, Nigeria<br />

Oshisanya, K. I., kharphioshi@yahoo.com<br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Physical and Chemical Oceanography, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Mar<strong>in</strong>e<br />

Research Lagos, Nigeria<br />

Babalola, A. F., bisbaaby@yahoo.com<br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Fish Technology, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Mar<strong>in</strong>e Research Lagos,<br />

Nigeria<br />

Abstract<br />

An assessment <strong>of</strong> pollutants <strong>in</strong> Nigerian coastal waters was carried out for a period <strong>of</strong> two years. A trawler MS<br />

Suzzannah with an on board GPS was used to locate <strong>the</strong> bear<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sampl<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts and an on board echo<br />

sounder was used to determ<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> sampl<strong>in</strong>g depth. Economic fish Pseudolithus senegalaenis, Atlantic bumper,<br />

Cynoglosus senegalensis and Pentatenus quanius were collected by trawl<strong>in</strong>g at different locations and depths at<br />

different po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>in</strong> Nigerian coastal waters. The fish tissue samples were digested us<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> methods <strong>of</strong> FAO/SIDA.<br />

All <strong>the</strong> samples were analyzed <strong>in</strong> five replicates for heavy metals (Pb, Fe, Mn and Zn) us<strong>in</strong>g Varian AA 600 Atomic<br />

Absorption Spectrometer. The highest concentration <strong>of</strong> Fe (9.39 ± 7.18) was <strong>in</strong> Drapane africana and least<br />

concentration (4.14 ± 4.21) was recorded <strong>in</strong> Pentatenus quanius. The highest concentration <strong>of</strong> Mn (1.1 ± 1.48) was<br />

<strong>in</strong> Cynoglosus senegalensis and least concentration (0.36 ± 0.00) was recorded <strong>in</strong> Drapane africana. The highest<br />

concentration <strong>of</strong> Pb (4.48 ± 0.57) was <strong>in</strong> Cynoglosus senegalensis and least concentration (2.1 ± 0.00) was recorded<br />

<strong>in</strong> Atlantic bumper. The highest concentration <strong>of</strong> Zn (0.78 ± 0.63) was <strong>in</strong> Drapane africana and least concentration<br />

(0.51 ± 0.31) was recorded <strong>in</strong> Cynoglosus senegalensis.<br />

Introduction<br />

Nigeria has a coastl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> approximately 853 km and lies between latitude 4°10' to 620'N and longitude<br />

2°45' to 8 5'E. (Dubl<strong>in</strong>-Green and Tobor, 1992). The sea, and more particularly <strong>the</strong> aquatic systems (e.g.<br />

estuaries), are <strong>the</strong> ultimate repository <strong>of</strong> man’s wastes. The highly dynamic nature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mar<strong>in</strong>e<br />

environment allows for very rapid assimilation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se materials by processes such as dilution, dispersal,<br />

oxidation, degradation or sequestration <strong>in</strong>to sediments. However, <strong>the</strong> capacity for such assimilation is<br />

limited (Fatoki and Mathabatha, 2001). Pollution and contam<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> aquatic environment <strong>in</strong><br />

Nigeria is <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> scope and magnitude (Hassan, 1987) which results <strong>in</strong> human health and<br />

environmental quality degradation (Osibanjo, 2001). Though some environmental pollution is as a result<br />

<strong>of</strong> natural causes, most is caused by human activities (Engelk<strong>in</strong>g, 2007).<br />

Water pollution occurs when a body <strong>of</strong> water is adversely affected due to <strong>the</strong> addition <strong>of</strong> large amounts <strong>of</strong><br />

pollutants to <strong>the</strong> water. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> many pollutants <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> environment is heavy metals. The presence <strong>of</strong><br />

heavy metals <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> aquatic ecosystem is due to natural and anthropogenic orig<strong>in</strong>. Heavy metals are<br />

among <strong>the</strong> most toxic pollutants present <strong>in</strong> mar<strong>in</strong>e, groundwater and <strong>in</strong>dustrial wastewater. The source <strong>of</strong><br />

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