International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Assessment of Some Trace Metals Content of Oreochromis niloticus Obtained from River Okpokwu, Apa Benue State, Nigeria

Author Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Chemistry, Benue State University, P.M.B. 102119, Makurdi NIGERIA

Res.J.chem.sci., Volume 3, Issue (3), Pages 70-75, March,18 (2013)

Abstract

This study was conducted with the aim of determining the concentrations of As, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Fe in whole Oreochromis niloticus (tilapia) and its fresh water habitat using recommended analytical procedures and compare the results with WHO‟s permissible limits. Samples of fresh water and the fish were collected weekly at the peak of rainy and dry seasons in the study area (October, 2010 and February, 2011) respectively at three locations; Auke, Odejo and Ochalanya along the river. Across the sampling points, the results obtained using Unicam Solar (32) Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer showed that the trace metal contents of Oreochromis niloticus varied between 0.05±0.01µg/g As to 0.38±0.04µg/g Fe in October, 2010 and 0.09±0.03µg/g As to 0.28±0.02µg/g Fe in February, 2011. The water levels of the trace metals ranged from 0.06±0.02µg/L As to 1.24±0.05µg/L Fe in October, 2010 and 0.04±0.01µg/L As to 0.59±0.10µg/L Fe in February, 2011. There were positive correlations between the concentrations of the trace elements in the whole fish and river water. T-test analyses of the levels of the trace metals between the sampling periods were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The levels of the trace metals recorded in this study were below WHO's permissible limits. Therefore, the water and Oreochromis niloticus obtained from the study area have not become contaminated by the trace metals studied. However, periodic review should be sustained to monitor possible accumulations of the heavy metals in future due to the proliferation of anthropogenic activities around river Okpokwu.

References

  1. Farkas A., Salanki J. and Varanka I., Heavy metal concentrations in fish of lake Balaton, lakes and reservoirs: research and management, 5, 271-279 (2000)
  2. Gupta A., Rai D.K., Pandey R.S. and Sharma B., Analysis of some heavy metals in the riverine water, sediments and fish from river Ganges at Allahabad, Environ. monit. assess., 157, 449-458 (2009)
  3. Giguere A., Campbell P.G.C., Hare L., McDonald D.G. and Rasmussen J.B., Influence of lake chemistry and fish age on cadmium, copper and zinc concentrations in various organs of indigenous yellow perch (Perca flavescens), Cand. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 61, 702-716 (2004)
  4. FAO, Committee for inland fisheries of Africa. Report of the third session of the working party on pollution and fisheries. Accra, Ghana, 25-29 November 1991. FAO fisheries report, 471, Rome, FAO, (1992)
  5. Linnik P.M. and Zubenko I.B., Role of bottom sediments in the secondary pollution of aquatic environments by heavy metal compounds, Lakes and Reservoirs Res. Manage. 5(1), 11-21 (2000)
  6. Agah H., Leermakers M., Elskens M., Fatemi S.M.R. and Baeyens, W., Accumulation of trace metals in the muscles and liver tissues of five fish species from the Persian Gulf, Environ. Monit. Assess., 157, 499-514 (2009)
  7. Blasco J., Rubio J.A., Forja J., Gomez-parra A. and Establier R. Heavy metals in some fishes of the muglidae family from salt-pounds of Codiz Bay SW Spain, Ecotox. Environ. Res., 1, 71-77 (1998)
  8. Lawani S.A. and Alawode J.A., Concentrations of lead and mercury in river Niger and its fish at Jebba, Nigeria, Bioscience research communication, 8, 47-49 (1996)
  9. Omorogie E., Okoronkwo M.O., Eziashi A.C. and Zoakah A.I., Metal concentrations in water column, benthic macro invertebrates and tilapia from Delimi River, Nigeria, Journal of aquatic sciences, 17(1), 55-59, (2002)
  10. Skjelkvale B.L., Adersen T., Fjeld E., Mannio J., Wilander A., Johansson K., Jensen J.P. and Moiseenko T., Heavy metal surveys in Nordic Lakes: concentrations, geographic patterns and relation to critical Limits, Ambio, 1, 2-10 (2001)
  11. Akueshi E.U., Oriegie E., Ocheakiti, N., and Okunsebor S., Levels of some heavy metals in fish from mining lakes on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria, Afr. J. Nat. Sci., 6, 82-86 (2003)
  12. Ahmed A., Dodo A., Bouba A.M., Clement S. and Dzudie T., Determination of minerals and heavy metals in water sediments and three fish species (Tilapia nilotica, Silurus glanis and Arius Parkii) from Lagdo Lake, Cameroun, Journal of Fisheries Medwell Publishing, 10(4), 100-120 (2010)
  13. Wufem B.M., Ibrahim A.Q., Gin N.S., Shibdawa M.A., Adamu H.M. and Agya P.J., Levels of heavy metals in Gubi Dam water Bauchi, Nigeria, Global journal of environmental sciences, 8(2), 29-37 (2009)
  14. Adeniyi Y., Asaolu S.S. and Olaofe O., Biomagnifications of some heavy and essential metals in sediment, fishes and crayfish from Ondo State Coastal Region, Nigeria, Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 48, 96-102 (2005)
  15. Ademoroti C.M.A., Environmental chemistry and toxicology, Fodulex press Ltd. Ibadan, 79-121 (1996)
  16. Harikumar P.S. and Jisha T.S., Distribution pattern of trace metal pollutants in the sediments of an urban wetland in the southwest coast of India, International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, 2(5), 840-850 (2010)
  17. Maitera O.N., Ogugbuaja V.O. and Barminas J.T., Determination of trace metal levels in water and sediments of river benue in ADAMAWA state, Nigeria, Journal of ecology and the natural environment, 3(4), 149-156 (2011)
  18. IPCS, Arsenic and arsenic compounds, 2nd ed. Geneva, World Health Organization, International Programme on Chemical Safety (Environmental Health Criteria 224, http://whqlibdoc.who.int/ehc/WHO_EHC_224.pdf) Accessed 18th December, 2012 (2001)
  19. WHO, Exposure to arsenic. www.who.int/ipcs/features/arsenic.pdf, Accessed 18th December, 2012, (2010)
  20. WHO, Guidelines for drinking water quality; first addendum to the third edition, volume 1 recommendations, 491-493 (2006)