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Title
  • en Metal and metalloid levels and bio-accumulation characteristics in soil, sediment, land plants and hippopotami (Hippopotamus amphibius L) from the South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Creator
    • en Muzandu, Kaampwe
    • en Choongo, Kennedy
    • en M'kandawire, Ethel
    • en Yasuda, Jun
Accessrights open access
Subject
  • Other en Bio-accumulation
  • Other en Hippopotamus
  • Other en Metal
  • Other en Plant
  • Other en Sediment
  • Other en Soil
  • NDC 649
Description
  • Abstract en Hippopotami (Hippopotamus amphibius L) are large semi-aquatic mammals that can be exposed to metals and metalloid from both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Therefore, knowledge of metal and metalloid accumulation characteristics in hippopotami living in the national park is important from ecotoxicological point of view. Levels of toxic metals (Cd, Pb and Hg) and metalloid (As) in hippopotami liver from the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia were far lower compared to the established values of toxic levels in cattle. No temporal variations of metal levels in hippopotami were observed, probably because of good management condition and the lack of anthropogenic activities around the national park. However, hippopotami liver accumulated significantly higher concentrations of Hg compared to soil, sediment and their food (plants), most likely due to a process of biomagnifications throughout a trophic chain. Moreover, hippopotami liver and land plants showed significantly higher Cd levels than those of soil. These results strongly suggest that hippopotami liver accumulate higher levels of these metals if surrounding environment is contaminated. Levels of Cr and Ni in hippopotami liver were higher compared to other toxic metals. Since this is the first report to show the Cr and Ni levels and bio-accumulation characteristics of Hg and Cd in hippopotami, we concluded that continuous monitoring and evaluation of toxic effects of these metals on hippopotami should be conducted.
Publisher en Elsevier
Date
    Issued2012-06-01
Language
  • eng
Resource Type journal article
Version Type AM
Identifier HDL http://hdl.handle.net/2115/49400
Relation
  • isVersionOf DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2012.04.003
  • PMID 22521811
Journal
    • PISSN 0147-6513
      • en Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
      • Volume Number80 Page Start333 Page End338
File
Oaidate 2023-07-26