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Presented at the NABS Annual meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2002
in Ecotoxicology
A COMPARATIVE SURVEY OF THE OCCURRENCE OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTANTS IN SEDIMENTS, FISH AND OYSTERS IN MTWAPA, PORT REITZ AND SHIRAZI MARINE TIDAL CREEKS ALONG THE KENYAN COAST.
A.W. Muohi and J.M. Onyari. University of Nairobi, Kenya
Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) elemental concentrations in acid digested samples were assessed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The method of analysis was validated using IAEA/SOIL-7, MA-M-2 (Mussel tissue) and MA-A-2 (Fish homogenate) International Atomic Energy Agency certified reference materials. In sediments, Cu concentrations ranged from 2.2 µg/g to 228.9 µg/g, Zn ranged from 9.1 µg/g to 3199.2 µg/g, Pb ranged from 8.4 µg/g to 164.5 µg/g while Cd ranged from 0.3 µg/g to 83.4 µg/g. In fish, Cu ranged from no detection (ND) to 1.0 µg/g, Zn ranged from ND to 11.4 µg/g, Pb ranged from ND to 2.2 ug/g while Cd ranged from ND to 0.6 µg/g. In oysters, Cu ranged from 3.3 µg/g to 1090.7 µg/g, Zn ranged from 46.8 µg/g to 1538.7 µg/g, Pb ranged from ND to 97.6 µg/g while Cd ranged from ND to 19.6 µg/g. Notably higher elemental concentrations in sediments and oysters were observed from stations in Makupa Creek which is part of Port Reitz Creek systems. There was significant variation (p<0.05) in elemental concentrations between and within creeks and compartments.
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