Research Article Open Acc J of Toxicol Volume 2 Issue 2 - October 2017 Copyright © All rights are reserved by Nnabuk Okon Eddy DOI: 10.19080/OAJT.2017.02.555584 Hylocomium Splendensas a Bio-Indicator for Heavy Metal and Hydrocarbons in Port Harcourt Fabian U, Stevens AO and Nnabuk OE* Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Nigeria Submission: September 27, 2017; Published: October 12, 2017 *Corresponding author: Nnabuk Okon Eddy, Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria, Email: Abstract Heavy metal and hydrocarbon concentrations in air within some industrial locations within Port Harcourt were investigated using moss plant, Hylocomium Spiendens Harcourt were fairly below theobtained permissible from the limit respective indicating locations. that air Twenty in the five city locations is relatively were unpollutedidentified based with onrespect various to industrialheavy metals activities. ions. HydrocarbonConcentrations streams of Al, Mg,in the Na, study Pb, Hg,area Cr, reveals V, Cu, theZn, presenceNI and Cu of ions n-C10 in tomoss n-C34, samples which collected are evidence from of twenty the presence five different of UCM, locations GRO and within DRO These Port suggest that past and recent hydrocarbon contaminations by crude oil and by-product of crude oil abound in the city. Keywords: Heavy metals and hydrocarbon pollution; Biomonitoring; Hylocomium Spiendens Introduction Some bio-indicators that have been found effective for bio- Global industrialization has opens the atmosphere to monitoring include, Hypnum cupressiforme Hylocomium pollution through the trapping of numerous gases and particles splendens and Pleurozium schreberi [9]. Other studies on the use arising from industrial processes. The degree and extent of of bio-indicators have also been documented [10-18]. environmental changes over the last decades has given a new urgency and relevance to the detection and understanding of Numerous studies have been published on the use of mosses environmental change, due to human activities, which have as bio-indicators. Some of the reported work include the use of altered global biogeochemical cycling of heavy metals and other Sphagnum girgensohnii Russow for bio-monitoring of metals pollutants. Pollution of the environment (except air) has been [19,20]. Mendill et al. [21] also used 14 different lichen and extensively studied indicating that there is serious need to moss samples to study heavy metal pollution in Sivas-Tokat enlarge research bandwidth to air pollution. Pollution of the air motorway (5-25 m) and recorded the following concentrations basically arises from contamination from gases and particulates 468.1 g/g (Fe), 270.5 g/g (Mn), 67.6 g/g (Zn), 53.3 g/g (Pb), (mostly metals) [1]. Air pollution due to gases can be effectively 79.6 g/g (Ni), 33.9 g/g (Cr), 29.6 g/g (Cu) and 5.7 g/g (Cd) for monitored through measurement (using respective gas sensitive mosses, 455.5 g/g (Fe), 170.5 g/g (Mn), 77.6 g/g (Zn), 6.5 g/g sensor or other instrument) but pollution due to particulates (Pb), 10.1 g/g (Ni), 3.8 g/g (Cr),25.6 g/g (Cu) and 1.5 g/g (Cd) presents some challenges in monitoring using probes. However, g/g for lichens. Basile et al. [22] conducted a bio-monitoring one of the most effective methods involves the use of some plants project using the moss, Scorpiurum circinatum to evaluate the (mostly mosses) as bio-indicators (i.e. biomonitoring) [2,3]. deposition and biological effects of heavy metals in the area of Acerra (Naples, S Italy), one of the vertices of the sadly called Biomonitoring with mosses is based on the fact that mosses ‘‘Italian triangle of death’’ owing to the dramatic increase in obtained most of their nutrients directly from wet and dry tumors. The results they obtained clearly indicated that the study area is heavily polluted by heavy metals, large proportion deposition and are thus suited as pollution indicator, especially deposition [4]. Therefore, they clearly reflect the atmospheric of which is likely present in the atmosphere in particulate form. for heavy metal pollution over a period of time [5,6]. Mosses Similarly, In their study, Bargagli et al. [23] use samples of the are also suitable bio-indicators for elevated Sulphurdioxide moss, Hypnum cupressiforme and the epiphytic lichen Parmelia, (SO2) concentration and their contaminants emitted to the caperata, in an area (Colline Metallifere, central Italy) intensively atmosphere from natural and anthropogenic sources [4,7,8]. exploited in the past for metals (Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn). They found that Open Acc J of Toxicol. 2017; 2(2): OAJT.MS.ID.555584 001 Open Access Journal of Toxicology Patterns of bioaccumulation of elements throughout the study Map of the study is shown in Figure 1. Samples were collected in area were quite similar for widespread pollutants such as S, B, triplicate from each sampling stations. As, Zn, Cr and Ni, but the lichen and the moss showed different distribution patterns of Hg, Cd and other elements subject to long-range atmospheric transport. Their results were attributed to differences in the morphology and eco-physiology of mosses and lichens and indicate that these organisms cannot be used interchangeably as biomonitors of metals in areas with mineral deposits. Figueira et al. [24] conducted a bio-monitoring survey in Portugal using the moss species (Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. and Scelopodium touretii (Brid L Kock). The results obtained indicated excellent correlation between heavy metal in the air and in the soil within the studied area. In Nigeria, literature is scanty on the use of bio-indicator to monitor air pollution. Therefore, the present study is aimed at investigating the extent of pollution of the air in Port Harcourt by heavy metal and hydrocarbon using the moss, Hylocomium splendens. Port Figure 1: Map of the study area. Harcourt is one of the most industrial and commercial cities in Chemical analysis Nigeria. Major industrial activities in the city are those associated Determination of heavy metal: Moss specimens collected with oil exploitation and associated activities. Materials and methods to a 50ml beaker. 1.5ml of concentrated HNO was added and from the fields were dried at 85 °C. 1g of each sample3 was added Appendix 1: Sampling locations in Port Harcourt and associated allowed to stand for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the sample was industrial activities. Location After cooling, 4ml of HClO was added in each sample, and then Code Characteristic Features 4 Name heated for 8 hours between the temperature ranges of 50-60 °C. Eleme F1 heated for 4 hours at 100-110 °C. It was again heated up to 190- concentrated HCl and 30ml of pure water were added. Then it Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC)- 200 °C. The precipitate at the bottom flask was cooled; 10ml of F2 ElemeRefinery Town MotorOffices/ Park, residentialMaintenance areas, Buildings churches F3 Rumuokwasi Residential quarters, Car park, Hospitals was again heated at 90-95 °C and the compounds were dissolved F4 Rumoula Business area, Car park, Churches and poured into Pyrex glass ware. Distillated water was added in 2-3 hours. The solution was filtered using black filter paper F5 Rumuchwula Motor park, Filling station, Residential area up to the marked level. The heavy metal ion determination in the F6 Onne Trailer park, Business area specimens solution was determined by using atomic absorption spectrometer F7 Elekohia Industries, Deserted area F8 Transamadi Industries/ Business area GC-MS analysis: A Hewlett-Packard 5800 series II gas F10 Oromenin Bus stop, Residential quarter chromatograph equipped with a Hewlett Packackard 5971 Mass selective detector (GC-MSD) was used to analyze extracts. After F11 Leventis Workshop, Motor park, Abandon building split less injection, compounds were separated with a 30-m J and F12 Railway Deserted area, Bus stop F13 Diobu Residential area, Bus Stop, Market places. Student hostels , academic area and W scientific DB-XLB fused silica capillary column. The oven was F14 UST Administrative block programmed to start at 70 °C for 15 minute, ramped to 320 °C at with Hewlett-packard Chem Station software. The MSD was Business area, Churches, Bus stop/ 10 °C per minute and held for 10 minutes. Data were collected F15 Air force base operated in the SIM mode at a scan mode (m/z 50 to 550). Residential area East/West Manufacturing industries, Market places, F16 Results and Discussions Road residential quarter Metal ions in moss Block industries, bus stop, residential/ F17 Main Town business premises Table 1 presents results obtained for the concentrations of Al, Mg, Na, Pb, Hg, Cr, V, Cu, Zn, NI and Cu ions from mosses in The moss samples were collected in Port Harcourt in the Port Harcourt. From the results obtained, it is evident that the locations shown in Appendix 1. The locations were chosen concentrations of aluminum ranged from 60.12ppm (at F-13: because there are several industrial activities within them. Port Diobu) to 116ppm (Dockyard Creek). Mean concentrations of Harcourt lies at latitude 4*45 N 7*00E longitude 4*75 N 7*E. aluminum in the study area was 84.87ppm respectively while How to cite this article: Fabian U, Stevens AO, Nnabuk OE. Hylocomium Splendensas a Bio-Indicator for Heavy Metal and Hydrocarbons in Port 002 Harcourt. Open Acc J of Toxicol. 2017;2(2): 555584. DOI: 10.19080/OAJT.2017.02.555584. Open Access Journal of Toxicology the variability of the data (i.e. standard deviation) was 16.38. The relatively high concentration of aluminum ions in the study precipitate from the air coating all surfaces in the room with a air conditioners. In cold room, at 3 to 6 °C, these pollutants area can be attributed to the high level of industrial activities in of 20 to 25 film of grey dust.