Thesis (PhD) -- Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Heavy metals are persistent environmental contaminants whose sources of inputs into
the environment are both natural and anthropogenic. The levels of heavy metals
(cadmium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc) in the False Bay intertidal zone were
measured in the water, sediments and invertebrate species between August 2000 and
August 2001. The results of the water and sediment analyses revealed that most
pollution was associated with the northern shore of the bay between Strand and
Muizenberg, where the most populated and industrial catchments occur. Significant
spatial variations occurred, indicating the presence of localised contamination, while
seasonal variations may be related to changes in precipitation and runoff at different
times of the year. The concentrations of cadmium, nickel and lead were occasionally
higher than the levels recommended by the South African Water Quality Standards.
The possible sources of pollution at the different sites are also discussed. The
concentrations of the five metals in the different invertebrate species (Oxystele
tigrina, 0. sinensis, Choromytilus meridionalis, Patella oculus, Patiriella exigua and
Tetraclita serrata) also revealed significant seasonal and spatial variations, with both
the soft tissues and shells accumulating heavy metals. The barnacle T serrata from
Rooiels had the highest cadmium concentration (70.67 J.lg/g dry weight), which may
be related to historic pollution inputs from the military activities which took place at a
weapons testing site at this site between 1987 and 1994, although no evidence was
found to confirm this. The periwinkle 0. tigrina from Strand had the highest copper
concentration (70.25 J.lg/g) while the limpet P. oculus from the same site had the
highest nickel concentration (35.75 J.lg/g). The shells of the mussel C. meridionalis
from Muizenberg had the highest concentration of lead (25.75 J.lg/g). Since cadmium
occurs as a constituent of phosphate fertilisers used widely in the False Bay
catchments, the effects of cadmium exposure on the different species were
investigated during 14-day laboratory exposures to 200 and 400 J.lg/LCdCh. The
results revealed a general pattern of tissue metal increase in the exposed organisms,
followed by slight reductions after decontamination in clean seawater. The viscera
and kidneys of C. meridionalis accumulated most of the dissolved cadmium. The
shells of the mussels also accumulated cadmium, indicating the possible use of shells
as a detoxification matrix. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Swaarmetale is persisterende omgewingskontaminante waarvan die insetbronne beide
natuurlik of van menslike oorsprong kan wees. Die kontaminasievlakke van
swaarmetale (kadmium, koper, nikkel, lood en sink) in die Valsbaai tussengetysone is
in die water, sedimente en invertebraatspesies bepaal vanaf Augustus 2000 tot
Augustus 2001. Voorlopige resultate van die water- en sedimentontledings het getoon
dat die meeste besoedeling by die noordelikke oewer van die baai voorgekom het
tussen Strand and Muizenberg, waar die mees digbewoonde en ge-industrialiseerde
opvangsgebiede is. Betekenisvolle ruimtelike en seisoenale variasie het in die
konsentrasies van swaarmetale voorgekom, met die ruimtelike variasie wat moontlik
gelokaliseerde kontaminasie aandui terwyl die seisoenale variasies weer verband mag
hou met veranderings in die neerslag en afloop gedurende verskillende tye van die
jaar. Die konsentrasie van kadmium, nikkel en lood was somtyds hoer as die vlakke
wat deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Waterkwaliteitsstandaarde voorgestel word. Die
moontlike bronne van besoedeling in die verskillende areas is ook in bespreking
genoem. Die konsentrasies van die vyf swaametale in die verskillende
invertebraatspesies (Oxystele tigrina, 0. sinensis, Choromytilus meridionalis, Patella
oculus, Patiriella exigua and Tetraclita serrata) het ook seisoenale en ruimtelike
variasies vertoon, die swaarmetale het in die sagte weefsel en skulpe van die
invertebrate geakkumuleer. Die hoogste gemiddelde konsentrasie van kadmium
(70.67 ).lg/g droe massa) is in die heel-liggaam monsters van die eendemossel T
serrata gemeet wat by Rooiels versamel is. Die vlakke mag verband hou met die
oprigting en aktiwiteite van die wapentoetsingsaanleg in die opvanggebied van die
Rooiels lokaliteit tussen 1987 en 1994, maar geen bewyse daarvan is gevind nie. Die
tolletjie, 0. tigrina wat in die 10kaliteit by Strand versamel is het die hoogste
gemiddelde konsentrasie koper gehad 70.25 pig droe massa), terwyl die klipmossel
P. oculus by dieselfde versamelpunt die hoogste konsentrasie nikkel (35.75 ).lg/gdroe
massa) gehad het. Eksperimentele studies is ook uitgevoer op vier invertebraat
spesies wat vir 14 dae in akwaria blootgestel is aan see-water met 200 en 400 p,g/L
CdCh, en daama gedekontamineer is in skoon seewater. / The NRF and the University of Stellenbosch, for funding this study.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53733 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Mdzeke, Naomi Patience |
| Contributors | Reinecke, A. J., Reinecke, S. A., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Botany and Zoology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xvi, 247 p : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
Page generated in 0.002 seconds