Heavy Metals Accumulation in Feaces of Wildlife around Ogun River in Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria

Abstract

Knowledge of bioaccumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in wildlife of our national parks is poor. With the use of standard procedures, this study evaluated wildlife dungs in Old Oyo National Park for bioaccumulation of nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), cupper (Cu), chromium (Cr) and cobalt (Co). Composite dung samples of kob (K), cane rat (CR), crocodile (C), pattas monkey (PM), olive baboon (OB), civet cat (CC) and western hartebeest (WH) were collected along River Ogun. Concentrations were significantly different (α<0.05) among the dungs, ranging from 3.99±0.56 (CR) to 27.09±0.20 mgkg-1(C) for Cu, 176.60±8.30(K) to 347.83±3.35 mgkg-1(PM) for Zn, 7.29±0.04 (CC) to 43.07±0.19 mgkg-1(C) for Pb, 37.64±1.39 (CC) to 157.57±0.19 mgkg-1(C) for Mn, 24.75±0.48(WH) to 65.00±68 mgkg-1(C) for Cd and 2.63±0.05(PM) to 5.76±0.07 mgkg-1(C) for Cr. There were no traces of Ni and Co detection in the dungs, but concentrations of Pb, Mn, Cd and Cr were significant and positively correlated. It is likely that the river is a major source of HM contaminants. There is need for all wildlife dietary sources to be investigated.

Keywords

• Arsenic
• Cadmium
• Chromium
• Lead
• Zinc

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