2023 CAPITAL PROJECT: NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS CONCENTRATION IN CLARIAS GARIEPINIUS IN IKPOBA RIVER - A CASE STUDY OF SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE; EDO STATE.
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AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The study was to evaluate the level of heavy metals in fish and sediments (downstream) in Ikpoba River, assess the pollution impacts and find the relationship between these metals and the specific health challenges they cause.
In order to achieve the above aim, the objectives of the study were as follows:
- To determine the concentration of some heavy metals (Chromium, Zinc, Copper, Iron, Cadmium, and Lead) in the muscle, liver, gills and downstream sediments of Ikpoba River.
- To evaluate the degree of some heavy metals’ enrichment, accumulation and potential ecological risks.
Project Outcomes
This research found that the six selected heavy metals were present in Clarias gariepinus of Ikpoba River. The liver exhibited a high level of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) and lower level of lead (Pb). The trend is as follows Fe > Zn > Cr > Cu > Cd > Pb, consistent with data from the Godavari River and its tributaries by Hussian et al. (2017). The high concentration of Fe, Zn, Cr, and Cu in the liver may be as a result of human activities such as untreated sewage discharge, pollution, and the use of metals. In gills, iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) have the highest concentration while copper (Cu) has the lowest concentration, it trends is shown below; Fe > Zn > Cd > Cr > Pb > Cu. The high concentration may be as a result of run-off and geological formation of the sample locations (Aremu et al. 2008). It may be as a result of the discharge of untreated effluents from the Guinness Brewery Company close to Ikpoba River. Generally, the concentration of heavy metals in the liver is higher than that of the gills, maybe as a result of higher level of bioaccumulation of toxic substances. The concentration of metals in the fish organs (liver and gills) exceed the safe limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), except for Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) respectively.
Therefore, precautionary measures and continuous monitoring of Ikpoba River is necessary.