Original Research
A further investigation into the bioaccumulation of lead and zinc in the organs and tissues of the African sharptooth catfish, Glorias gariepinus from two localities in the Olifants River, Kruger National Park
Koedoe | Vol 41, No 2 | a251 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v41i2.251
| © 1998 H.M. Marx, A. Avenant-Oldewage
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 01 August 1998 | Published: 01 August 1998
Submitted: 01 August 1998 | Published: 01 August 1998
About the author(s)
H.M. Marx, Rand Afrikaans University, South AfricaA. Avenant-Oldewage, Rand Afrikaans University, South Africa
Full Text:
PDF (7MB)Abstract
The bioaccumulation of lead and zinc in the gills, liver, muscle and skin of Glorias gariepinus from two locations, Mamba and Balule, on the Olifants River within the Kruger National Park is reported here. Over a one year period (1994), four surveys (February, May, July and November) were undertaken. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to determine the concentrations of both metals in the tissues. The gills were the major route of uptake, with the liver accumulating high lead and zinc concentrations. The concentration of metals in the fish found at Mamba and Balule were found to be significantly different from each other. However, it could not be established at which location the greatest amount of bioaccumulation had taken place. The influences of temperature, alkalinity, salinity and pH on metal toxicity, bioavailability and bioaccumulation rates are discussed in detail. It is imperative that pollution levels in the Olifants River and its effect on fish is continually monitored and captured, so as to main- tain and conserve this river and the biota dependant on it.
Keywords
bioaccumulation, Glorias gariepinus, Olifants River, lead, zinc.
Metrics
Total abstract views: 5308Total article views: 2527
Crossref Citations
1. Metal concentrations in Hydrocynus vittatus (Castelnau 1861) populations from a premier conservation area: Relationships with environmental concentrations
Ruan Gerber, Nico J. Smit, Johan H.J. van Vuren, Victor Wepener
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety vol: 129 first page: 91 year: 2016
doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.03.009