Assessment of two persistent bioaccumulative toxicants in the UNESCO protected river of Osun-Osogbo, Nigeria

A study assessing the concentrations of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in sediments and gastropod species from the Osun River found no toxicological risk to the freshwater system. The research revealed that both metals were significantly lower than their average crustal concentrations and freshwater limits, with zinc consistently higher than copper in both sediments and gastropods (Melanoides tuberculata and Lanistes varicus). Lanistes varicus showed greater bioaccumulation of these metals compared to Melanoides tuberculata. Samples were collected quarterly from June 2015 to March 2016, with analysis conducted via atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The findings suggest the Osun River remains an unimpacted freshwater system, despite its ecological significance.

Akindele, E. O., Olutona, G. O., Oyeku, O. G., & Adeniyi, A. V. (2017). Assessment of two persistent bioaccumulative toxicants in the UNESCO protected river of Osun-Osogbo, Nigeria. Ecological Processes, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-017-0097-1