Abstract:
Due to long-term military activities carried out in Nandikadal lagoon situated at Mullaitivu, Sri
Lanka, there are high possibilities to impact water and biota with heavy metals .Balanus
amphitrite( Barnacles )has been found as a strong candidate for biomonitoring of trace metals .
Therefore, the present study describes the impacts of trace metal pollution on water and the soft
tissues of Balanus amphitrite .Water samples and barnacles were collected from two locations
of the lagoon for four months during the dry and wet seasons .Quantitative analysis of trace
metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn) were detected in the water and tissue samples using flame
atomic absorption spectrometry .Cd, Cr, Pb and Cu found in tissues of barnacles were several
times higher than the International recommended level except for Zn .The concentration of Pb
in tissues of barnacles showed a significant (p < 0.05) spatial variation .The Cd and Cu
concentrations obtained in soft tissues showed significant (p < 0.05) seasonal variations .The
concentration of Cr in water showed a significant (p < 0.05) spatial variation and other trace
metals (Pb,Cd )except Zn, showed significant (p < 0.05) seasonal variations .There were
significant positive correlations between water and soft tissues with respect to Cd (p=0.000 &
r =0.893 )and Pb (p=0.002 & r=0.435 .)Zn found in samples showed negative correlation
between water and soft tissues. According to this results Balanus amphitrite has an ability to
accumulate trace metals several times greater than in the lagoon water .Therefore, Balanus
amphitrite is a strong net-accumulator of Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr .Hence, it is a good choice to be
used as a bioindicator organism to find the level impact of trace metal contamination .
