Abstract:

Ilo-Idimu River is a tropical zone lying between 60.47ºN of the equator and 20.33ºE, and 30.18ºE of the Greenwich meridian. The aim of this research is to determine the concentration of heavy metals in Sarotherodon galilaeus; a predominant fish species in Ilo-Idimu River, and its public health significance. Water samples were collected from the River at different locations and depth. Samples were also taken with the use of dissecting instruments from the scale, skin, flesh, gill, and gut of S. galilaeus. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer was used to determine the concentration of heavy metals in the water samples and various body parts of the fish. From the result obtained, the levels of heavy metals concentrations ranged between 0.00-3.14, 0.00-2.18, 0.52-3.08, 0.00- 0.68 and 0.00-1.48 mg/kg in the gill, flesh, gut, skin and scale respectively. The highest level of heavy metals was recorded in the gill while the lowest was recorded in the skin. The concentration of each of the heavy metals was significantly different across body parts (P˂0.05) except lead. Concentration of most of these heavy metals exceeded the maximum permissible limit. Our results indicated that there is inherent danger in consuming fishes from Ilo-Idimu river.

Keywords: