Abstract
Metal pollution in aquatic systems is considered a serious environmental issue globally due to their ability to accumulate in aquatic environments. Wetlands are vulnerable to this pollution as they are known to trap toxins, removing them from the water. Artificial mussel technology, originally developed for marine environments, was applied to this freshwater system and spot water samples were collected. The Nyl River floodplain (Ramsar classified) is one of the largest and most ecologically significant wetlands in South Africa. The aims of this study were to determine metal contamination along the Nyl River system by means of artificial mussels (AM) and water ICP-MS analysis and to determine whether the use of AMs in conjunction with spot water testing could give more insight into the pollution in freshwater wetlands. The concentrations of Al, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined at seven sites. It was determined that the levels accumulated by the AMs differed in spatial and temporal trends when compared to spot water samples. It was determined that there were high levels of some metals found in the spot water tests that were not corroborated by the AMs results, which could indicate isolated pollution events. The use of AMs in conjunction with spot water testing was determined to be beneficial in gaining deeper insight into water metal conditions in dynamic freshwater systems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, T. W. (2003). An introduction to multivariate statistical analysis (3rd ed.). New Jersey: Wiley.
Boss, C. B., & Fredeen, K. J. (2004). Concepts, instrumentation and techniques in inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (3rd ed.). USA: Perkin Elmer.
Cempel, M., & Nikel, G. (2005). Nickel: A review of its sources and environmental toxicology. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 15, 375–382.
Claassens, L., Dahms, S., van Vuren, J. H. J., & Greenfield, R. (2016). Artificial mussels as indicators of metal pollution in freshwater systems: A field evaluation in the Koekemoer Spruit, South Africa. Ecological Indicators, 60, 940–946.
Daniel, M. H. B., Montebelo, A. A., Bernardes, M. C., Ometto, J. P. H. B., Camargo, P. B. ., Krusche, A. V., Ballester, M. V., Victoria, R. L., & Martinelli, L. A. (2002). Effects of urban sewage on dissolved oxygen, dissolved inorganic and organic carbon, and electrical conductivity of small streams along a gradient of urbanization in the Piracicaba River basin. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 136, 189–206.
Degger, N., Wepener, V., Richardson, B. J., & Wu, R. S. S. (2011). Application of artificial mussels (AMs) under south African marine conditions: A validation study. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 63, 108–118.
Department of Water Affairs (DWA). (2011). National Assembly: Question 3416 for written reply. Internal Question Paper No. 36.
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). (1996). South African water quality guidelines. Volume 7: Aquatic ecosystems.
Echols, K. R., Meadows, J. C., & Orazio, C. E. (2009). Pollution of aquatic ecosystems II: Hydrocarbons, synthetic organics, radionucleotides, heavy metals, acids and thermal pollution. In G. E. Likens (Ed.), Encyclopaedia of Inland Waters (1st ed., pp. 120–128). Boston: Elsevier.
Fisher, E. M. (2011). Metal bioaccumulation and biomarker responses in tigerfish, Hydrocynus vittatus, from three South African populations. Dissertation. University of Johannesburg.
Galvin, R. M. (1996). Occurrence of metals in water: An overview. Water SA, 1, 7–18.
Gerber, R. J. L., Smit, N. J., Van Vuren, J. H. J., et al. (2018). Biomarkers in tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus) as indicators of metal and organic pollution in ecologically sensitive subtropical rivers. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 157, 307–317.
Gonzalez-Rey, M., Lau, T. C., Gomez, T., Maria, V. L., Bebianno, M. J., & Wu, R. (2011). Comparison of metal accumulation between ‘Artificial Mussel’ and natural mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) in marine environments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 63, 149–153.
Gouws, C., Du Toit, G. J. (2014). Water level monitoring report for the flooding event at the proposed Volspruit opencast mining project, Mokopane, Limpopo. Escience associates. Report no. EAV-13-447.
Greenfield, R. (2004). An assessment protocol for water quality integrity and management of the Nyl River wetland system. Thesis. University of Johannesburg.
Greenfield, R., van Vuren, J. H. J., & Wepener, V. (2007). Determination of sediment quality in the Nyl River system, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Water SA, 33(5), 693–700.
Greenfield, R., Van Vuren, J. H. J., & Wepener, V. (2012). Heavy metal concentrations in the water of the Nyl River system, South Africa. African Journal of Aquatic Science, 37(2), 219–224.
Haskins, C., & Kruger, J. (1997). Information sheet for the site designated to the List of Wetlands of International importance especially as waterfowl habitat. Pietersburg: Chief Directorate Environmental Affairs.
Hellawell, J. M. (1986). Biological indicators of freshwater pollution and environmental management. London: Elsevier Applied Science Publishers.
Holt, E. A., & Miller, S. W. (2010). Bioindicators: Using organisms to measure environmental impacts. Nature Education Knowledge, 3(10), 8.
Hossain, M. M., Kibria, G., Nugegoda, D., Lau, T. C., & Wu, R. (2015). A training manual for assessing pollution (trace/ metals) in rivers, estuaries and coastal water using innovative artificial mussel (AM) technology- Bangladesh model. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.4384.4644. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273775181_A_Training_Manual_for_Assessing_Pollution_%28traceheavy_metals%29_in_Rivers_Estuaries_and_Coastal_waters-Using_Innovative_Artificial_Mussel_%28AM%29_Technology_-_Bangladesh_Model.
Kempster, P. L., Hattingh, W. A. J., & Van Vliet, H. R. (1980). Summarized water quality criteria. Department of Water Affairs and Environmental Conservation, Hydrol Research Instit. Report No. TR108.
Kibria, G., Rose, G., Lau, T. C., Lung, Y. K., Chan, A. K. Y., & Wu, R. (2010). Monitoring heavy metals in Goulburn-Murray waterways using passive sampling with artificial mussels (AM) –pilot study. Report No. 2806033. ISBN: 978-1-876356-19-4.
Leung, M. Y., Furness, R. W., Svavarsson, J., Lau, T. C., & Wu, R. S. S. (2008). Field validation, in Scotland and Iceland, of the artificial mussel for monitoring trace metals in temperate seas. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 57, 790–800.
Markert, B. A., Breure, A. M., & Zechmeister, H. G. (2003). Bioindicators & Biomonitors – Principles, concepts and applications. Trace metals and other contaminants in the environment, 6, 3–39.
Martin, T. D., Creed, J. T., & Brockhoff, C. A. (1994). USEPA Method 200.2. Sample preparation procedure for spectrochemical determination of total recoverable elements. Revision 2.8.
McCarthy, T. S., Tooth, S., Jacobs, Z., et al. (2011). The origin and development of the Nyl River floodplain wetland, Limpopo Province, South Africa: Trunk—Tributary river interactions in a dryland setting. South African Geographical Journal, 1, 1–19.
Munk, L., & Faure, G. (2004). Effects of pH fluctuations on potentially toxic metals in the water and sediment of the Dillon reservoir, Summit County, Colorado. Applied Geochemistry, 19, 1065–1074.
Pheiffer, W., Pieters, R., Van Dyk, J. C., & Smit, N. J. (2014). Metal contamination of sediments and fish from the Vaal River, South Africa. African Journal of Aquatic Science, 39(1), 117–121.
Phillips, D. J. H. (1977). The use of biological indicator organisms to monitor trace metal pollution in marine and estuarine environments- a review. Environmental Pollution, 13, 281–317.
Prosi, E. (1979). Heavy metals in aquatic organisms. Metal pollution in the aquatic environment (pp. 271–323). Berlin: Springer.
Sanders, M. J. (1997). A field evaluation of the freshwater river crab, Potamonautes warren, as a bioaccumulation indicator of metal pollution. Dissertation. Rand Afrikaans University.
Van Emden, H. F. (2008). Statistics for terrified biologists. Victoria: Blackwell Publishing.
Vlok, W., Cook, C. L., Greenfield, R., et al. (2006). Biophysical framework for the sustainable management of wetlands in the Limpopo Province with Nylsvley as a reference model. WRC Report No: 1258/1/06. ISBN No: 1–77005–462-6.
Wu, R. S. S., Lau, T. C., Fung, W. K. M., Ko, P. H., & Leung, K. M. Y. (2007). An artificial mussel for monitoring heavy metals in a marine environment. Environmental Pollution, 145, 104–110.
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge Mrs. E. Kroukamp at the University of Johannesburg Analytical Facility (Spectrum) for the assistance with sample analysis and Mr. R.S. Musa for the fieldwork assistance.
Funding
This study was financially supported by the University of Johannesburg and National Research Foundation of South Africa.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dahms-Verster, S., Baker, N.J. & Greenfield, R. A multivariate examination of ‘artificial mussels’ in conjunction with spot water tests in freshwater ecosystems. Environ Monit Assess 190, 427 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6764-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6764-6