Geochemical fractionation of trace elements in ostreid and gastropod shells: A potential proxy for heavy metal pollution in Ghana’s coastal environment

Matias Reolid Pérez; Mario Boateng; Edem Mahu

doi:10.3989/egeol.45247.1085

Autores/as

Matias Reolid Pérez Universidad de Jaen https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4211-3946
Mario Boateng Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0969-9589
Edem Mahu Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0212-8150

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/egeol.45247.1085

Palabras clave:

Crassostrea, metales traza, contaminación, mangler

Resumen

El contenido en elementos traza de Crassostrea tulipa (Ostreidae, Bivalvia) de cuatro localidades (Estuario del Río Pra, Estuario del Río Densu, Playa Kpone y Arroyo Anyanui) a lo largo de la costa de Ghana ha sido utilizado como un bioindicador de contaminación ambiental. Los valores más bajos en metales pesados corresponden a las conchas de Crassostrea del Estuario del Densu y el Arroyo Anyanui, mientras que los más altos se han registrado en las conchas el Estuario del Río Pra y Playa Kpone. El Estuario del Río Densu y el Arroyo Anyanui se localizan en áreas no afectadas por grandes industrias, y únicamente el Estuario del Densu se localiza en un área densamente urbanizada. Las conchas de Crassostrea del Estuario del Densu presentan enriquecimiento principalmente de Ni. Sin embargo, el contenido total en carbono orgánico del sedimento en el Estuario del Densu indica polución orgánica de origen antropogénico, pese a no existir evidencias en la composición de elementos traza en las conchas de Crassostrea. Los especímenes procedentes del Estuario del Pra muestran enriquecimiento en la mayoría de los elementos traza estudiados (Li, Be, V, Cu, Cr, Zn, Ga, Y, Sn, Pb, U, Th, ∑REE y As). Este enriquecimiento está relacionado con el aporte de metales pesados al Río Pra en relación con las actividades mineras, la deforestación extensiva y la consecuente pérdida de suelos. Las conchas de Crassostrea de Playa Kpone presentan un comparativamente alto contenido en algunos elementos traza (Be, Ba, Cu, Zn, Nb, Pb, y ∑REE). Los contaminantes metálicos están relacionados con los aportes del Área de Industria Pesada de Tema (localizada a unos 3.5 km al oeste de Playa Kpone) junto con los residuos urbanos del área metropolitana de Accra. El alto contenido en Ba, Cu, Zn, y Pb en Crassostrea está directamente relacionado con la alta productividad de fitoplancton (principalmente diatomeas) que transfiere metales traza a la red trófica marina. Además, algunos análisis realizados en conchas de gasterópodos de Playa Kpone indicant que Cerithium y Nerita son más sensibles a la acumulación de Ni y As que Crassostrea. Teniendo en cuenta la utilidad de las conchas de Crassostrea como bioindicadores de contaminación por metales pesados, los ecosistemas menos contaminados corresponden a las localidades de Arroyo Anyanui y Esturio del Río Densu, mientras que el Estuarío del Río Para y la Playa Kpone están afectados por actividades antrópicas tales como la minería, los vertidos urbanos y los industriales.

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