Assessment of selected metals in the muscle and liver of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) collected from Ilushi River, Ilushi, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study determined the level of manganese, zinc, copper, and nickel in the liver and muscle of the African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus from Ilushi River, Edo State, Nigeria with a view to determining the level of heavy metal contamination. The results showed that the muscles and the livers contained varying levels of the assayed selected heavy metals and non-metallic elements. The heavy metal load assayed revealed that zinc had the highest mean concentration (0.217±0.008 μg/g) in liver and (0.130±0.006 μg/g) in muscle, Copper had the least concentration (0.063±0.004 μg/g) in liver and (0.027±0.003 μg/g) in muscle. The distribution of the heavy metals in the muscles and livers of Clarias gariepinus showed significant variations with the concentration of the heavy metals being higher in the liver than in the muscle of fish. Comparison with WHO/FAO/FEPA/USFDA permissible limit revealed that the concentrations of the assayed heavy metals in the fish were safe for human consumption.

Keywords: Clarias gariepinus, Heavy Metals, Liver, Muscle