Heavy metal bioaccumulation in the fish communities of Areba River, Olomoro, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

The bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb, Fe, Mn, Cr, and V) in the fish communities comprising 22 species in a section of Areba River were investigated from January to December, 2000 using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry technique. All the 22 fish species analysed were contaminated with heavy metals ranging from 2 to 7 times above the WHO and New Zealand maximum acceptable limits for food. Fe and Zn were the highest bioaccumulated heavy metals while Mn and V where generally the lowest. Ni was not detected in Ischthys henryi, so also were Cd, Ni and Mn in Gymnallabes typhus. Heavy metal pollutants have been mainly attributed to the activities of petroleum industries operating in the area.

Key words: heavy metal, bioaccumulation, fish, WHO, pollution