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Assessment of Cadmium and Lead in the Barnacle (Semibalanus balanoides) and Oyster (Crassostrea gasar) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria: Risk assessment of Oyster consumption

Adaobi Ugbomeh P and Akpelu Okereke B

The barnacle (Semibalanus balanoides) and oyster (Crassostrea gasar) collected from Ikpukula-Ama in Borikiri Port Harcourt were used for heavy metal (Cd and Pb) analysis using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS) CBC Avanta PM in 2014. The concentration of Pb varied between 0.044 - 1.167 ppm in S. balanoides and 0.163 - 0.74 ppm in C. gasar with means of 0.75 + 0.08 ppm and 0.55 + 0.06 ppm respectively. Cd concentration ranged from 0.033 - 0.108 ppm in S. balanoides and 0.01 – 0.28 ppm in C. gasar with mean values of 0.07 ± 0.008 ppm and 0.14 ± 0.04 ppm respectively. The concentration of Pb was significantly higher than that of Cd in both animals, and the concentration of Pb in S. balanoides was significantly higher than that of C. gasar. The Pb concentrations in both organisms were higher than the FAO permissible limit in seafood of 0.5 ppm. Both organisms accumulated Pb more than Cd. S. balanoides appeared to be a better indicator organism to monitor Pb in the environment as concentrations of the heavy metals were higher. Risk assessment for Cd in C. gasar, the daily maximum allowable limit as well as the meal consumption limit over a month as a function of meal was calculated.