article · Asian Journal of Applied Chemistry Research
An assessment of chemical pollutants in freshwater fish from the River Benue in central Nigeria evaluated the presence of alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates. Using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, samples of African carp and African tiger fish collected between September 2019 and June 2020 were analysed for residues of these persistent endocrine-disrupting substances. Concentrations of twenty alkylphenols reached maximums of 16.0 nanograms per gram in African carp and 27.8 nanograms per gram in African tiger fish, whilst four alkylphenol ethoxylates reached 3.1 nanograms per gram in African carp. Human health risk assessments based on consumption showed hazard quotient values below one for both adults and children, indicating no immediate threat of harm. Nevertheless, consumption patterns could lead to a higher body burden of these persistent chemical contaminants in children than in adults.
Alkylphenols and their ethoxylates are widespread chemical pollutants that persist in aquatic environments and can disrupt hormones. Measuring their presence in widely consumed freshwater fish establishes vital baseline contamination data. Although current intake levels appear safe from immediate harm, younger populations remain particularly vulnerable to chemical accumulation, reinforcing the need for ongoing surveillance to safeguard local food chains and public health.
The abstract does not indicate a commercialisation pathway or direct product development. Instead, the baseline contamination and health risk findings serve environmental regulatory agencies and public health monitors assessing freshwater quality and food safety standards. The work represents early-stage environmental surveillance and risk assessment research without immediate commercial applications.
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Alkylphenols (APs) and Alkylphenols ethoxylates (APEs), are ubiquitous estrogenic chemicals, widely distributed in fish due to their persistence and lipophilicity. This study determined levels of APs and APEs, and the associated human health risk in two fish species, 16 Labeo coubie (African carp) and 16 Hydrocynus vittatus (African Tiger fish) sampled quarterly from River Benue, central Nigeria between September 2019 and June 2020. Compounds were identified and quantified using Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometric detection (GC-MS). Levels of twenty APs (∑20APs) in Labeo cubie ranged from ND-16.0 ng g-1 wet wt, with total and maximum values of 94.5 ng g-1 wet wt, and 16.0 ng g-1 wet wt respectively. Residues of four APEs (∑4APEs) ranged from ND-3.1 ng g-1 wet wt, total of 5.0 ng g-1 wet wt, and maximum of 3.1ng g-1 wet wt respectively. In Hydrocynus vitatus, ∑20APs ranged from ND-27.8 ng g-1 wet wt, total and maximum of 205 and 27.8 ng g-1 wet wt, respectively. Estimated risk from ingestion of compounds in Labeo cubie and Hydrocynus vitatus by adult and children indicate no immediate potential harm as the hazard quotient (HQ) value was less than one (HQ < 1). However, children could suffer higher body burdens of these pollutants than adults if they are fed with these fish. This study provides baseline data on levels and estimated human health risk from ingestion of these two species of fish contaminated by APs and APEs to regulatory agents and future researchers.
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DOI: 10.9734/ajacr/2025/v16i1319
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