Physico-chemical Parameters and Heavy Metals Distribution in Selected Shell Fishes along the Opuro-Ama Creek in Rivers State of Nigeria

The study was conducted to determine the heavy metals concentration in selected shell fishes (U. tangeri, C. amnicola, T. fuscatus, P. monodon), sediment and water. The samples were collected from a fishing port along the Opuro-ama Creek in Rivers State of Nigeria. analysis for Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co) and Zinc (Zn) were done using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The order of metal accumulation in these shellfishes, sediment and water were; C. amnicola (Fe > Zn > Cu > Co > Mn); U. tangeri (Fe > Zn > Cu > Co > Mn); T. fuscatus (Fe > Cu > Zn > Co > Mn); P. monodon (Fe > Co > Zn > Cu = Mn); Sediment (Fe > Zn > Co > Cu > Mn); Water (Fe > Cu > Mn > Co = Zn). There was statistical difference (p<0.05) in metals concentration in the soft tissues in all the shellfish. From the results, the concentration of the metals in the tissues of all the shell fishes, the interstitial water and the sediment sampled from the creek were within the permissible limit recommended by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DRP), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) except for Fe which was above the recommended limit. The physicochemical parameters of the interstitial water such as pH, Temperature, Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids (TSS) Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), and Salinity were within the acceptable levels in the guidelines for drinking]. Although Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and the Total Suspended Solids (TSS) were slightly higher than the recommended limit of these metals by Department of Petroleum Resources (DRP). This indicates that if theses metals are not checked, they may increase the potential for bioaccumulation in the shellfishes and the creek as well. Therefore, there is need for regular monitoring of this creek to avoid future deterioration.