Distribution and bioaccumulation of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCS) in Lagos Lagoon water, sediment and fish

Abstract

Toxic chemical contaminants released from industrial, agricultural, and municipal sources continues to threaten aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic  ecosystems act as the final sinks accumulating and transporting numerous chemicals such as octylphenol (OP), nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol-A (BPA). These chemicals are undesirable as they have been reported to possess endocrine disrupting properties. This study therefore assesses
the distribution and bioaccumulation of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in Lagos Lagoon. Water and sediment samples were collected at nine different locations on the lagoon. Five different species of fishes were also collected, identified and homogenized prior to sample pre-treatment. Samples were extracted, clean-up, derivatized and analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Physicochemical properties of  the samples were also determined. In the water samples, BPA was not detected in all the samples collected at the different locations while the concentrations of NP and OP ranged from ND-102 ng/L and ND-127 ng/L, respectively. The concentrations of the targeted compounds in the sediment samples ranged from ND- 5.08 μg/g BPA, ND-1.90 μg/g NP, and ND- 2.51 μg/g OP while the concentrations ranged from ND-1139 ng/g BPA, ND-476 ng/g NP, and ND-643 ng/g OP in the fish samples. This study revealed the occurrence of EDCs in Lagos lagoon water and their  accumulation in biota therein, which can have detrimental effects on other organisms across the food chain. Thus, the need to monitor these endocrine disrupting chemicals is imperative.

Keywords: EDCs; BPA; OP; NP; Lagos lagoon