Accumulation of Pb, Cd and Ni in sediments and root of mangrove plant (<i>Laguncularia</i> sp) from the fringes of the Upper Bonny Estuary, Nigeria

Abstract

The accumulation of heavy metals in sediments and roots of mangrove plant (Laguncularia sp) in relation to the age of the plant root was evaluated. Composite sediment and root samples were collected from three spots per station at three different locations (St.1: Borikiri, St.2: Bundu-Ama, St3: Eagle Island) of mangrove fringes in the upper Bonny estuary. Heavy metal content of sediment and roots were analyzed using spectrophotometric methods while growth rings/bands was used to estimate age of root. There were variations in the metal content of sediments in space and time. Observed heavy metal range (µg/g) in sediments (N