Accumulation and translocation of trace metals in Halodule uninervis, in the Kuwait coast

A. H. Bu-Olayan and B. V. Thomas*

POB 5969, Department of Chemistry, Kuwait University, Safat-13060, Kuwait.

ABSTRACT: Trace metals run-off associated with urban and industrial development showed potential threats to seagrass in the Kuwait coastal ecosystem. Seagrass, Halodule uninervis from Doha, Duba’iyah and Nuwaseeb (Sites I-III) representing the power plant, industrial (oil fields) and recreational sites of Kuwait’s coastal waters were assessed for trace metals (Copper: Cu, Iron: Fe, Nickel: Ni and Lead: Pb) concentrations respectively. Trace metals concentrations followed an overall trend of: leaves> rhizome in H uninervis > sediments and Ni>Cu>Pb>Fe irrespective of the two seasons (summer and winter). Seasonally, trace metals in all the samples showed the sequence of July>Sept.>May> Mar.>Jan.>Nov. Among the three sites, trace metals were high in Site II followed by Sites I and III irrespective of seasons. The overall trace metals bioconcentration factor (BCF) was high in summer than in winter. BCF was higher than the translocation factor (TF) irrespective of the sampled sites and seasons. Among the sampled metals, BCF was high in Cu in both the seasons followed by other metals. However, the overall BCF in the samples was lower than the permissible limits to be defined as hyper-accumulators. Thus, the possibility of trace metals mobilization from contaminated sediment to leaves through rhizomes of H uninervis, characterized this species as a bio-indicator to trace metal pollution in the intertidal zone of Kuwaiti waters.

KEYWORDS:

Seagrass; metals accumulation; marine pollution

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