DETERMINATION OF SOME TRACE ELEMENTS IN RAW PERIWINKLE Tympanotonus fuscatus

DETERMINATION OF SOME TRACE ELEMENTS IN RAW PERIWINKLE Tympanotonus fuscatus

CHAPITRE ONE

Introduction

Trace elements are naturally occurring components of the earth’s crust; they are stable and long-lasting pollutants of coastal waters and sediments. Because of their high persistence and bioaccumulation issues, they are severe pollutants Pekey, (2006). They cause toxicity by building complexes with chemical molecules and enzyme active sites. The estuary and coastal environment near to metropolitan centers bears the brunt of the influence of anthropogenic activity, according to Nouri, Kabassi, and Mirka (2008).

Apart from being a prominent delicacy, Tympanotonus fuscatus is one of the most popular sea delicacies enjoyed by people living in Nigeria’s coastal area. They also serve as a source of economic empowerment for the people in the area. Although periwinkles are marine creatures, they migrate into brackish water systems during their post larval phases, where they grow quickly and reach maturity in waterways and lagoons. Their exposure to both marine and estuarine environments has all consequences on the body burden of metal bioavailability from both natural and anthropogenic environmental setups (Mohapatra et al, 2009). The fascination with trace elements derived from marine mollucs stems from three areas of concern: nutritional, environmental, and toxicological. Trace elements such as Mg, Na, Ca, Fe, Zn, Co, and K are required for human body and health maintenance. Trace elements such as Cd, Pb, As, Hg, and V may be harmful to humans. Their tissue sample can be utilized as a bio-indicator to assess pollutant bioavailability in coastal water investigations.

Toxic metals in the environment are emitted by fossil fuels, mining industries, waste disposal, and municipal sewage. Farming and forestry also contribute to the metal content of the environment through the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, and as a result of environmental pollution, contaminants may enter the food chain. Because humans eat for survival, the main route of entry for most metals into the body is through diet. As a result, it is critical to understand the harmful metal content of the foods that people consume on a daily basis (Chowdhury et al, 2011).

However, research on the accumulation of trace metals by the periwinkle Tympanotonus fuscatus in the Niger delta is limited, despite the region’s high concentration of industry, oil installations, refineries, and the resulting contamination of the aquatic environment. Few studies conducted in the Niger delta region found that trace metals are abundant in surface waters and aquatic creatures, occasionally reaching levels that pose a health risk to consumers. Agada (1994); Ovuru and Alfred-ockiya (2001); Edema and Egborge (1992).This means that seafood is a substantial source of trace element exposure for those who consume it, and the purpose of this study is to determine the trace element concentration in periwinkle flesh acquired from Ifiayong Creek.

Study Background

Tympanotonus fuscatus var-radula is found in numerous places of the world in the intertidal zone at low water mark. Tympanotonus fuscatus var-radula crawls around under water but usually remains passive when exposed by the tides. A significant amount of Tympanotonus fuscatus is obtained daily for food and they have been found to be rich in protein and carbohydrate (Egonwan, 1980). The muscle tissue contains high concentrations of free arginine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid (Watt and Meril, 1950; Jay, 1978). They are invertebrates from the phylum Mollusca and the class gastropoda; Tympanotonus sp. is valuable commercially, and their gathering and commercialization forms a significant industry in the Niger Delta.