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Dispersion model and bioaccumulation factor validating trace metals in sea bream inhabiting wastewater drain outfalls

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Abstract

Our study was based on the recent increase in wastewater pollution and its deleterious effects to the marine ecosystem. Using numerical simulation (DESCAR-3.2 software program), we investigated the orientation and quantification of trace metals in wastewater discharges from permanent and semi-permanent drain outfalls constructed along the Kuwait Coastline encompassing six Kuwait Governorates (GI-GVI). This study was related to trace metals toxicity and bioaccumulation effects on the commercial yellow fin Sea bream, Acanthopagrus latus fish using probit program and bioaccumulation factor (BAF), respectively. Observations from wastewater discharges showed high trace metals concentrations in the sequence of Zn > Cr > Cu > Fe > Ni > Pb > Hg during winter compared to summer and in GI and GIV compared to drain outfalls in the other Governorates. Seasonally, trace metals in A. latus revealed the sequence of Zn > Fe > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb > Hg in GI, GII and GIV indicating the significance of toxic metals that bioaccumulated from their surrounding untreated wastewater. Toxicity test revealed A. latus highly sensitive to Hg even at low lethal concentrations (LC15) compared to other metals. BAF in A. latus body parts was >1 indicating significant accumulation of trace metals from wastewater. However, BAF was <1 in Cr suggesting that A. latus could absorb trace metals from multiple sources over lengthy exposure period and not necessarily from wastewater containing rich Cr levels. Thus, the present findings validate A. latus as bioindicator to pollution more authentically by numerical simulation, toxicity and bioaccumulation tests compared to the traditional method of labeling A. latus as a pollution indicator.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Research Administration, Kuwait University for their invaluable financial support to our project (Grant No. SC-06/09). We also thank the Vice Dean Research and General Research Facilities (GRF: GS01/05) for extending their analytical support toward this project.

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  1. Department of Chemistry, Kuwait University, Kuwait city, 13060, Kuwait

    A. H. Bu-Olayan & B. V. Thomas

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  1. A. H. Bu-Olayan
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  2. B. V. Thomas
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Correspondence to B. V. Thomas.

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Bu-Olayan, A.H., Thomas, B.V. Dispersion model and bioaccumulation factor validating trace metals in sea bream inhabiting wastewater drain outfalls. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 11, 795–804 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-013-0332-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-013-0332-y

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