Determination of Heavy Metals Bioaccumulation, Non-Carcinogenic and Carcinogenic Risk of Muscle Tissue of Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Wild and Cultured from Unwana River and Pond

Abstract

Heavy metals bioaccumulations have been associated with carcinogenic and non carcinogenic toxic effect on certain tissues and organs in humans and animals. The present study aimed at the determination of bioaccumulation of heavy metals and their possible risk of carcinogenic and non carcinogenic toxicity in catfish muscle. The wild and cultured catfish were obtained from Unwana river and Cikano fish pond respectively. All from Unwana Afikpo North L.G.A. The fish samples were digested by the aqua regia digestion standard method and analyzed using AAS. The result obtained showed Zn (0.01, 0.01), Se (0.02, 0.01), Cu (0.09, 0.06), Cd (0.01, 0.01), Pb (0.12, 0.09) and Cr (0.01, 0.01) for wild and cultured respectively, Target Hazard Quotients (THQ) obtained Zn (0.0013, 0.0017), Se (0.0012, 0.002), Cu (0.0011, 0.0012), Cd (0.06, 0.06), Pb (0.02, 0.015) and Cr (0.004, 0.004) for wild and cultured respectively, Hazard Index (HI) of 0.083 and 0.073 for wild and cultured respectively and Cancer Risk (CR) for Pb (6.0, 4.5) and Cd (22.0, 22.0) all in 10^-7 for wild and cultured respectively. Low concentration of heavy metals suggest low contamination of their aquatic habitats and low THQs and HI far below one could also indicate possible no or low risk of non carcinogenic toxicity. More so, the values of CR being well below one also could indicate no or low possible risk of cancer. Finally, it could be concluded that the levels of these heavy metals in the fish muscle may possibly pose no or low carcinogenic and non carcinogenic toxic effects

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