HEAVY METAL CONTENTS IN COMMERCIAL FISHES CONSUMED IN UMUAHIA AND THEIR ASSOCIATED HUMAN HEALTH RISKS

Authors

  • Robert Ikechukwu Uroko Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6154-3477
  • Amarachi Agbafor Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
  • Simeon Ikechukwu Egba Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
  • Oluomachi Nancy Uchenna Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
  • Rose Simon Adeyi Sangodare National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Basawa Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
  • Chinedu Paulinus Nwuke Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
  • Osisioma Kenneth Nwanosike Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2281-4485/10323

Keywords:

heay metals, cancer risk, target hazard quotient, fishes, health risk

Abstract

This study evaluated the heavy metal contents in commercial fishes consumed in Umuahia and their associated health consequences. Trachunis symmetricus, Clupia pallassi, Micropogonias undulatus, Ictalumus punctalus, Scomber japonicus, Merluccius paradoxus, Pomatomus saltatrix and Oreochromis niloticus were fishes used for the study. The digestion of fish samples, heavy metal analyses and health risk aassessment were carried out using standard methods and models. The heavy analyses of the fishes show that chromium was not detected in all the fishes while lead was found to be significantly (P<0.05) higher than its permissible limit in all the fishes.  With exception of T. symmetricus, M. paradoxus, C. pallassi and S. japonicus that showed detectable levels of Cd, Cu and Co respectively above their permissible limits. Mn and Ni concentrations detected in the fishes were significantly (P<0.05) lower than their respective permissible limits. The concentration of Fe detected in most of the fishes was significantly (P<0.05) higher than its permissible limit. The daily intake of the heavy metals were below their oral reference daily intake except for I. punctalus with daily intake of Fe above its oral reference daily dose. Target hazard quotients (THQ < 1) were observed in all the fishes except I. punctalus with THQ > 1 for Fe. The hazardous index in I. punctalus, M. paradoxus and P. saltatrix were greater than 1. The carcinogenic risks due to Pb, Cd and Nickel were within the acceptable range of predicted lifetime risks for carcinogens. The total cancer risks of carcinogenic metals in C. pallassi, I. punctalus and M.paradoxus are above the minimum acceptable range of predicted lifetime cancer risk for carcinogens while every other fishes have total cancer risks within the minimum range. The findings of this study show that commercial fishes consumed in Umuahia contain high heavy metals at varying concentrations across fish species with the concentration of safe been unsafe for consumption. There are increased risks of both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks associated with consumption of the fishes.

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Published

2020-03-23

How to Cite

Uroko, R. I., Agbafor, A., Egba, S. I., Uchenna, O. N., Sangodare, R. S. A., Nwuke, C. P., & Nwanosike, O. K. (2020). HEAVY METAL CONTENTS IN COMMERCIAL FISHES CONSUMED IN UMUAHIA AND THEIR ASSOCIATED HUMAN HEALTH RISKS. EQA - International Journal of Environmental Quality, 39(1), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2281-4485/10323

Issue

Vol. 39 (2020)

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Copyright (c) 2020 Robert Ikechukwu Uroko, Amarachi Agbafor, Simeon Ikechukwu Egba, Oluomachi Nancy Uchenna, Rose Simon Adeyi Sangodare, Chinedu Paulinus Nwuke, Osisioma Kenneth Nwanosike

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