article · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
This research assessed the concentration of three toxic heavy metals, cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb), in water from the River Niger in Idah Metropolis and in the organs of ten different fish species. Using atomic absorption spectroscopy, the study found that all three heavy metals were present in the river water. Chromium was detected in all sampled fish species, with concentrations exceeding the World Health Organisation (WHO) permissible limit. Lead was found in five fish species, also above the WHO recommended limit for fish products. Cadmium was detected in four fish species, with Tilapia zilli showing the highest concentration. The bioaccumulation factor for heavy metals in both water and fish followed the order Cr > Pb > Cd. The findings indicate that the heavy metal levels in the fish are beyond tolerable limits, rendering them unsafe for human consumption.
This research highlights a significant public health concern regarding heavy metal contamination in the River Niger. It provides crucial data indicating that fish from this river are unsafe to eat, posing risks to communities relying on these resources for food and water.
The abstract does not indicate a direct commercialisation pathway. However, the findings underscore the urgent need for environmental monitoring programmes and the development of mitigation strategies to reduce heavy metal pollution in the River Niger, which could involve public sector initiatives or environmental consulting services.
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Pollution of the aquatic environment with toxic heavy metals has become a worldwide problem in recent years, because of their negative effects on human health. Three toxic heavy metals (Cd, Cr and Pb) were investigated in the river and organs (intestine, gills and flesh) of ten (10) different fish species (Heterotis niloticus, Heterobranchus longifilis, Protopterus annectens, Clarias lazera, Tilapia zilli, Clarias anguillaris, Clarias gariepinus, Mormyrus rume, Synodontis clarias and Auchenoglanis biscutatus) harvested from River Niger in Idah Metropolis were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) techniques. The mean obtained showed the following concentration of heavy metals (mg/L) in the river: Cr = 0.3727, Cd = 0.1092, Pb = 2.0928. Cadmium was detected in four (4) out of the ten (10) fishes sampled with mean concentration values being H. longifilis = 2.3 ± 1.63 mg/kg, T. zilli= 10.7 ± 8.11 mg/kg, C. gariepinus = 3.4 ± 4.19 and A. biscutatus = 1.6 ± 1.19 mg/kg with T. zilli having the highest concentration value of Cd. Chromium was detected in all the fish species sampled with mean concentration values all higher than the WHO permissible limit of 0.15 mg/kg. Lead was detected in five (5) out of the ten (10) fishes sampled, in the following concentration level; C. lazera > P. annectens > C. gariepinus > A. biscutatus > H. niloticus. The levels were all higher than the WHO recommended limit for fish and fish products of 2.0mg/kg. The result shows that the bioaccumulation factor of heavy metals in both the water and fishes was in the order Cr > Pb > Cd. Results revealed that, the bioaccumulation factor of the heavy metals in the fishes are beyond the tolerable levels, which indicated that the fishes are unfit for human consumption. Consequently, close monitoring and urgent mitigation strategies of these metals’ pollution of river Niger in Idah Metropolis, Kogi State is recommended with a view to minimizing the risk of health of the population that depend on the river for their water and fish supply.
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DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18076234
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