Assessing the bioconcentration of heavy metals in Nypa Palm (Nypa fruticans (Wurmb) from selected mangrove forests in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The bioconcentration of Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr and Ni in tissues of Nypa palm (Nypa fruticans) was investigated during wet and dry seasons from selected mangrove forests, using the randomized complete block design. Soil and plant samples were randomly collected from plant dominated growth stations and analyzed for heavy metal content using the Perkin Elmer Analysts 200 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results obtained showed the bio-transfer factors of heavy metals at wet season as Pb (1.08mg/kg), Zn (1.42 mg/kg), Cd (6.14 mg/kg), Cr (0.56 mg/kg) Ni (0.90 mg/kg) and dry season as Pb (0.86 mg/kg), Zn (1.15 mg/kg), Cd (5.44 mg/kg), Cr (0.66 mg/kg), Ni (1.12 mg/kg). The result further showed the bio-translocation factors of the metals at wet seasons as Pb (0.59 mg/kg), Zn (0.76 mg/kg), Cd (3.25 mg/kg), Cr (0.22 mg/kg), Ni (0.54 mg/kg) and dry season as Pb (0.64 mg/kg), Zn (1.03 mg/kg) Cd (3.07 mg/kg), Cr (0.24 mg/kg), Ni (0.61 mg/kg) respectively. Findings indicate the study plant as a hyper accumulator of Ni, Cd and Zn, and non-hyper accumulator of Cr and Pb. It is thus recommended that N. fruticans be utilized for phytoremediation of Ni, Cd and Zn in polluted mangrove ecosystem.