Heavy Metals Composition in Fish Species from Oron River Metropolis, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

The pollution of the aquatic environment with heavy metals has become a worldwide problem and of scientific concern since heavy metals are not degradable and may pose toxic effects on organisms. Therefore, this study is aimed at investigating the heavy metal in fish species in Oron metropolis, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. This study was carried out in fish species (Clarias gariepinus, Oreochromis niloticus, Sardina pilchardus and Scomber scombrus) harvested from Oron river. Five samples per species were used following standard digestion procedures using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Data collected were subjected to ANOVA, and student’s T-test were used for analysis. The results showed that lead (Pb) accumulated were slightly higher in the muscles than in the gills while Zinc accumulated much in the muscles than in the gills. Zn concentrations in the muscles of the fish species were significantly different from those in the gills. Zinc concentration in both gills and muscles are in the following order: Clarias gariepinus > Oreochromis niloticus > Scomber scombrus > Sardina pilchardus. Cadmium was higher in Scomber for both gills and muscles, and in the order of Scomber scombrus > Clarias gariepinus > Sardina pilchardus and Oreochromis niloticus respectively. Copper followed the order Sardina pilchardus > Scomber scombrus > Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus for gills and Scomber scombrus > Sardina pilchardus > Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus for muscles.