HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN FISH (Albula vulpes) OF BENIN RIVER IN RELATION TO HUMAN HEALTH

Abstract

Health risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in humans through consumption of Albula vulpes from Benin River, in Koko Town (Southern Nigeria) was studied. Assessment of heavy metal concentrations was conducted in the liver, kidney and muscles of the fishes using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Mean heavy metal concentrations for Zn, Cd, Pb, Mn, As and Ni in A. vulpes were 0.69, 0.20, 0.04, 0.16, 0.13 and 0.23mg/kg for liver, 0.29, 0.08, 0.02, 0.06, 0.05 and 0.09mg/kg for muscle, 0.61, 0.18, 0.03, 0.14, 0.11 and 0.20mg/kg for kidney respectively. Target hazard quotients (THQs) for Cd, Pb, As, Ni, Mn and Zn were 0.0010, 0.0007, 0.0214, 0.0006, 0.0001 and 0.0001. The highest THQ value was for Arsenic (0.0214). The least THQ value was for Mn (0.0001). The total THQ (TTHQ) was 0.0239 and this was less than 1, suggesting that the consumption of A. vulpes is unlikely to cause any adverse health effects to consumers.