Bioaccumulation trend of trace elements in water hyacinth (eichhornia crassipes) from Oleri River near Delta Steel Company, Aladja. – G.E Nwajei, C.M.A Iwegbue, F.I Bassey, Onakpoma J.E , G.E Obi-Iyeke and R.I Nwajei
ABSTRACT
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) samples were collected from twelve locations for the period of eight months (January – September,2011) in Oleri River. The samples were analytically prepared, treated and digested for trace metal analysis using atomic absorption spectrophotometry of Model Pye Unicam 2900. The trace element determined were iron, copper, zinc, manganese, lead, chromium, nickel, cadmium and arsenic. The results obtained revealed that there were variations in the levels of iron, copper, zinc and manganese whereas no variations was observed for lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel and arsenic. However, all the aforementioned trace elements determined were detected in this study. The concentrations of these metals exceeded the WHO limits for selected environmental parameters important for fish health and their recommended safe levels. These high levels of trace elements in Eichhornia crassipes can pose threat to fishes, goats, pigs and cattle which serves as food to them. This high rate of bioaccumulation of trace metals in the plant is an indication that effluents discharged at points X1 and X7 in Oleri River and other industries’ activities in Warri and its environs may account for these elevated metal levels.