Heavy Metals Levels in Fish Samples from North Central Nigerian Rivers

Abstract

Most aquatic organisms are capable of accumulating heavy metals to concentrations much higher than those present in water and sediments in their environment. In this piece of work, the concentrations of heavy metals were determined in fish organs of Albula vulpe and Tilapia zilli obtained from rivers in six different states within the North-Central metropolitan area using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The results showed that the liver of Tilapia zilli has the highest level of heavy metals with the concentration of Mn as 435.1mg/kg and the gills have the lowest concentration of Cd as 0.3mg/kg. Also the liver of Albula vulpe have the highest concentration with Mn as 292.6mg/kg and the muscles have the lowest concentration with Pb as <LOD. The trend for heavy metal accumulation is Mn>Cr>Pb>Cd>Ni in Albula vulpe and Mn>Cr>Pb>Ni>Cd in all the organs of Tilapia zilli. This indicates that the fish samples could be used to monitor Mn and Cr pollution levels in the North-Central Rivers.

Keywords: Albula Vulpe, Heavy metal, North Central Nigeria, Tilapia Zilli, River