Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Pelagic and Benthic Fishes of Ogbese River, Ondo State, South-Western Nigeria

Josephine Omowumi Olayinka-Olagunju,Adetola Mary Olatunji-Ojo,Adekunle A Dosumu

doi:10.1007/s11270-021-04987-7

Josephine Omowumi Olayinka-Olagunju, Adetola Mary Olatunji-Ojo + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-04987-7

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Abstract

The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of heavy metal (Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, and As) concentrations in benthic and pelagic fish organs (muscles, gills, liver, and hearts), and concentrations of heavy metals in water and sediments of Ogbese River, Ondo State, Nigeria were investigated. From the results, the concentrations of heavy metals in the water were within the permissible limits stipulated by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, in the sediments, Cd, Cr, Fe, and Mn concentrations were higher than the limits, while Zn, As, Pb, and Cu were within limits. Heavy metals concentrations in the fish organs showed that all fish species were within the permissible limits implying no contamination. More so, the BAFs in all fish organs revealed no probability of accumulation while the geoaccumulation index and contamination factor showed no contamination to moderate contamination. The potential ecological risk index also showed moderate risk factor indicating that the water and sediments were not extremely polluted for higher organisms but may be toxic for lower ones. The study concludes that constant monitoring and study should be conducted by researchers and the Ministry of Water Resource and that the community should be aware of the danger human pollution can cause to the river.

Highlights

Freshwater and sediment pollutions have shown serious ecological threat and bring about environmental toxicity in many water bodies in developing countries
In a bid to bridge this gap, the present study investigated the bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of heavy metals in pelagic and benthic fishes of Ogbese River, and assessed the concentrations of heavy metal in water, sediments, pollution indices
The results suggested that heavy metal concentrations in the fish organs were within the regulatory limits, but this limit may, harm lower aquatic organism in the river

Summary

Introduction

Freshwater and sediment pollutions have shown serious ecological threat and bring about environmental toxicity in many water bodies in developing countries. (Sharma and Chatterjee 2017; Marshall et al 2010) Whenever these heavy metals are released into the soil and aquatic ecosystem, they may bioaccumulate and biomagnify in water and soil and may disrupt the organisms’ food chain. Malik et al (2015) argued that since fish are situated at the bottom of the aquatic food chain, they may amass heavy metals from the sediment thereby passing it to human through fish consumption and leading to severe health issues. This is because pollutants from solid waste, industrial effluents, and agricultural run-off are quickly deposited into rivers.

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