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Heavy metal accumulation in organs of Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) from industrial effluent-polluted aquatic ecosystem in Lagos, Nigeria

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Abstract

The concentrations of four heavy metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, and Pb) in water, sediment, and tissues (gill, muscle, brain, and intestine) of Oreochromis niloticus from a segment of the Lagos Lagoon complex were monitored for 10 months (July 2012–April 2013) spanning wet and dry seasons. Three sampling stations were selected: Ologe Lagoon, the nearest to the point where effluent is discharged from Agbara Industrial Estate, the Owo River is upstream before the point of discharge of industrial effluent, and Etegbin is downstream. In most cases, the highest concentrations of heavy metal in fish tissues were recorded in samples obtained from Ologe Lagoon. The ranges of concentrations of heavy metals in the tissues of the fish were 4.06 ± 2.45–49.94 ± 13.11, 81.27 ± 28.52–2044.64 ± 554.77, 10.90 ± 7.69–41.10 ± 11.24, and 0.12 ± 0.07–1.81 ± 3.12 mg/kg for Zn, Fe, Cu, and Pb, respectively. There were significant negative correlations (lowest; r = −0.24, p < 0.01, n = 30; highest; r = −0.58, p < 0.01, n = 30) between fish tissue metal concentrations and size of fish from Ologe Lagoon. Also, significant positive correlations (lowest; r = 0.48, p < 0.05, n = 30; highest; r = 0.93, p < 0.01, n = 30) between concentrations of Cu in sediment and tissues of O. niloticus were observed. The concentrations of the metals in the tissues of O. niloticus have exceeded the limits recommended by WHO. The maximum safe daily consumption (MSDC) value of Fe in Ologe Lagoon was lower than the recommended average daily intake of fish for humans. This indicated that O. niloticus from Ologe Lagoon may not be safe for human consumption. Therefore, there is a need for regular monitoring of heavy metal in these water bodies and enforcement of existing laws on the treatment of effluent before they are discharged into aquatic ecosystems.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded in part by a grant from Pure Earth, formerly the Blacksmith Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Science, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria

    Prince Emeka Ndimele & Musa O. Pedro

  2. Institute of Marine Remote Sensing, College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA

    Prince Emeka Ndimele

  3. Department of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria

    Julius Ibukun Agboola

  4. Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria

    Kanayo Stephen Chukwuka

  5. Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Environmental Management, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

    Alice O. Ekwu

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  1. Prince Emeka Ndimele
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Ndimele, P.E., Pedro, M.O., Agboola, J.I. et al. Heavy metal accumulation in organs of Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) from industrial effluent-polluted aquatic ecosystem in Lagos, Nigeria. Environ Monit Assess 189, 255 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-5944-0

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