Abstract: Heavy metal refers to any such metallic chemical element that has a relatively high density and is toxic or deleterious at low concentrations. Heavy metal concentration in liver and blood tissues form Clarias gariepinus from selected sites along River Benue was assayed for using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS Buck Scientific 205). This research is geared towards ascertaining the level of heavy metals in the liver and blood tissues of the cat fish from River Benue, considering the fact that they are a widely consumed fish species. Concentration of the metals in the Liver are in the following decreasing order Zn> Mg > Fe > Cd > Mn > Cr > Pb. Concentration of the metals in the Blood are in the following decreasing order Fe> Zn > Mg > Mn > Cd > Pb > Cr. Also, evidences from the photomicrograph of the liver tissues showed hydroscopic swellings and slight morphological changes to the structure of the liver. In conclusion, findings from this research showed that the liver and blood of the sample fishes (Clarias gariepinus) bioaccumulated considerable concentrations of heavy metals. Despite the bioaccumulation of metals in the liver, there were no visible lesions on the liver cells except for the morphological changes in some and hydroscopic swellings in some of the liver tissues.
Keywords: Heavy Metal; Bioaccumulation; River Benue; Clarias gariepinus.
Title: HEAVY METAL BIOACCUMULATION IN LIVER AND BLOOD TISSUES OF Clarias gariepinus (AFRICAN SHARP TOOTH CATFISH), FOUND IN RIVER BENUE, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
Author: Amadi Davidson Jnr, Ogo A. Ogo, Inalegwu Bawa, Onyekachi Onyekwere
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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