Abstract
This study was carried out in ten (10) different locations within River Gongola, its Dam, and Dadinkowa Dam, Gombe State, Nigeria during the wet and dry season to study the water quality in terms of physicochemical properties to ascertain the levels of contaminants due to flooding and anthropogenic activities and the levels of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, and Ni) in the two species of fish (Clarias gariepinus and Bagrus docmak). A total of 200 water and 360 fish samples comprising two different species were collected in the month of March-June 2017 (Dry season) and July-October 2017 (Wet Season). The results of physicochemical properties obtained ranges between Temperature 29.0-30 0C and 30-32 0C, pH 5.4-7.8 and 6.0-6.9, Conductivity 93.3-161 μS/cm3 and 104.9-128 μS/cm3, Dissolved oxygen 1.2-3.98 mg/l and 0.4-3.1 mg/l, Total Suspended Solids 10-860 mg/l and 13-1180 mg/l, Total Dissolved Solids 46.5-80.5 mg/l and 54.2-76.5 mg/l, Turbidity 424.7-783.5 NTU and 11.15-442.1 NTU, Phosphate 1.82-7.23 mg/l and 0.00-0.11 mg/l, and Nitrate 2.25-8.82 mg/l and 2.68-6.81 mg/l during wet and dry season respectively. The result reveals that turbidity, PO43, DO, TSS, and TDS were above the acceptable permissible limits of WHO While the mean concentration levels of heavy metals in Clarias gariepinus and Bagrus docmak revealed that Cr was below the detectable limit while Cd ranges between 0.5-7.75 µg/g, Pb rangesbetween 3.9-35.6 µg/g during the wet and dry season. The mean concentrations of all the studied metals were above the permissible limit of WHO with a higher concentration during the dry season.
Highlights
Pollution of water bodies by heavy metals has been in the public domain of recent days because human beings can be exposed to toxic metals which bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms harvested from contaminated waters (Svensson et al, 1995)
Because of the toxicological importance of this edible clam, it is imperative for studies to be conducted to assess the levels of heavy metals in fish muscle from some selected location within River Gongola and its dam and to verify whether or not the concentrations in the clams are within the permissible limits for human consumption in comparison to WHO guideline
The general desire to protect water bodies has led to an expansion of research into their water quality requirement in terms of their physicochemical parameter such as pH, Temperature, Turbidity, conductivity, Total Dissolve Solid (TDS), TSS, dissolved oxygen (DO), PO43- and No3, The mean value/ concentration of the physicochemical parameter of River Gongola and its Dam, in Gombe North-East part of Nigeria along ten different locations were monitored for the period of Feb-June 2017 for Dry season and July-November 2017 for Wet season the results reveals that turbidity, Po43- DO, TSS, and TDS were above the acceptable permissible limits of WHO and USEPA due flooding and anthropogenic activities such as application of fertilizer, organic pesticides, herbicide, insecticides and industrial discharges along the River banks
Summary
Pollution of water bodies by heavy metals has been in the public domain of recent days because human beings can be exposed to toxic metals which bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms harvested from contaminated waters (Svensson et al, 1995). Fish and other aquatic organisms can absorb and accumulate heavy metals in the body The dam is part of River Gongola; its drainage basin is situated in North-Eastern Nigeria, with a capacity of 800 million cubic meters of water and a surface area of 300 square kilometers Around it are villages inhabited mostly by farmers, Ashaka cement factory, and agricultural activities are performed along the river banks. Sampling was done in March - June 2017 (dry season) and July-October 2017 (wet Season) using a global positioning system to identify where samples were collected. pH, Conductivity, Temperature and Turbidity were determined immediately on the site, collected samples were transported to the chemistry laboratory, Gombe State University, Gombe State, Nigeria where analysis of TDS, TSS, DO, Alkalinity, Nitrate and Phosphate were carried out immediately
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
