Pearl oyster (Pinctada radiata)‎ as bioindicator for heavy metals pollution in coastal area, South of Kuwait

Other Title(s)

محار اللؤلؤ (Pinctada radiata)‎ كمؤشر حيوي للتلوث بالعناصر الثقيلة في المنطقة الساحلية، جنوب الكويت

Dissertant

Marzuq, Munirah Abd al-Wahid Abd Allah

Thesis advisor

al-Sammak, Amr Abd al-Aziz
al-Hazim, Shakir Hamzah

University

Arabian Gulf University

Faculty

College of Graduate Studies

Department

Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources

University Country

Bahrain

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2013

English Abstract

Marine pollution is the main concern of Kuwait due to the dependence on sea water for drinking water، seafood and recreation activities.

This research is aims to investigate concentrations of five heavy metals (Pb، Cd، Zn، Cu and Ni) that could be discharge into marine environment though industrial or urban effluents and anthropogenic activities.

These discharged wastes can carry amount of heavy metals which could affect the marine biota، especially those which have the tendency to accumulate in biota tissues، hence move through higher trophic level in the food chain which may result marine biota loss and human health problems.

The Pearl Oysters (Pinctada radiata)، which considered as a bioindicator، were used for examination of the levels of metals in the sediments and water along Kuwaiti coastal area.

The water, sediments and P.

radiata samples were collected from intertidal and subtidal zones at four selected locations along the southern coast area of Kuwait.

These locations are Khaira, Jlea’a, Fhaheel and Abu Al Hassani.

The levels of metals were determined by Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) and Inductivity Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).

The results revealed that the concentrations of metals in water were in decreasing pattern in the following order Ni > Pb > Cu > Cd > Zn at all stations.

Ni concentration was the highest in sea water reached 318.49 µg / l at Fhaheel.

The concentrations of metals in sediment samples haven’t showed specific order.

Ni concentration was the highest reached 55.28 mg / kg at Khairan.

The concentrations of metals in P.radiata were in decreasing pattern in the following order Zn > Cu > Cd > Ni > Pb at all stations.

Zn concentrations were the highest.

The calculated values for Pollution Load Index (PLI) for sediment at Khairan, Jlea’a and Fhaheel were ( > 1) while at Abu al- Hassani was generally (< 1).

The Index of Geoaccumulation (Igeo) indicated that the sediment at all stations were uncontaminated (grade 0) with respect to Pb, Zn, Cu and Ni.

Moderately contaminated (0 < I geo < 1) with respect to Ni in Khairan and heavily contaminated (4 < Igeo < 5) for all stations with respect to Cd.

Bio-accumulation Factor (BCF) for water and sediments (BCFo-w, BCFo-s) were calculated.

BCF reflect the ability of oyster to accumulate metals from water and sediment to different levels.

BCFo-w indicate that Pinctada radiata has high potential factor (> 1000) for Zn and moderate potential (100>BCFo-w< 250) for Cu and Cd in sea water.

This reflects the high to moderate ability of Pinctada radiata to accumulate Zn, Cu and Cd from sea water.

BCFo-s indicate that Pinctada radiata has moderate potential for Zn and very low potential (> 1) for other metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni) which indicate the low ability to accumulate metals from sediments except Zn.

Main Subjects

Earth Sciences, Water and Environment

Topics

• Kuwait
• Sediments

No. of Pages

90

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-370918