Speaker
Dr
Jose Francisco Guambe
(Eduardo Mondlane University-Maputo-Mozambique)
Description
Application of IBA in the comparative analyses of fish scales as biomonitors of pollution.
J.F. Guambe1,2,3, J.A. Mars4, J. Day1
1Freshwater Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa.
2Physics Department, Eduardo Mondlane University, PO Box 257, Maputo, Mozambique.
3Materials Research Department, iThemba LABS, PO Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, South Africa.
4Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, PO Box 1906, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
Many natural resources have on a world-wide scale been contaminated by major industrial concerns. More so, most of these natural resources have been destroyed beyond remediation. However, only a few of these incidents are noticeable, such as the Exxon Valdez (1989), oil spillage, the Thor Company, 1988, Manica Province Mining, Mozambique, 2005 and mercury release into the environment. Alarming is the fact that most environmental pollution events occurred or are occurring over extended periods of time. It is thus difficult to pinpoint the sources of pollution and therefore also holding the perpetrators legally responsible. More alarming, fish found in the resources are used as dietary supplements, especially by individuals that reside near the natural resources. The scales of fish have been proven to be applicable in monitoring contamination of the natural resources. However, the morphology and chemical composition of the scale of various species differ to a significant degree. Consequently, the incorporation of contaminants into the scale structure will be different. There is a need of pilot study for contaminants which can harm the biota. The composition of the fish scales is different. To quantify the degree of incorporation onto the scale matrix we have analysed, using PIXE, RBS and SEM, the scale of four types of fish scales, that is, Pomadasys kaakan; Lutjanus gibbus; Pinjalo pinjalo and Lithognathus mormyrus. In this work we report on the viablility of using various fish scales as monitors of natural resource contamination. These compositional data will then be used to pinpoint the dates on which the pollution events occurred.
Primary author
Dr
Jose Francisco Guambe
(Eduardo Mondlane University-Maputo-Mozambique)
Co-authors
Prof.
Jenny Day
(University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa)
Dr
Johan Andre Mars
(University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa)
