HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATION IN TILAPIA (TILAPIA ZILLI) FROM MINI-NDAI CREEK, RUMUOLUMENI, PORT HARCOURT.

Abstract

Heavymetals are naturally occurring elements but industrial activities and other anthropogenic activities can also release them into our environment to levels causing pollution. Heavy metals in high concentration in the aquatic organisms may pose a health risk when these organisms are consumed. The aim of the study was to evaluate the state of heavy metal contamination of the Mini-Ndai creek. Heavy metal concentrations in Tilapia zilli from Mini-Ndai Creek, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophometer (AAS). Samples were collected in January, March and May. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation represented in bar graph. The heavy metals analyzed are Ni, Cd and Mercury. The resulted indicated high concentrations of Ni (3.94μg/g) and low concentrations of Hg (0.02μg/g). The trend of heavy metals concentration can be represented as Ni>Cd>Hg,
with their concentrations as (3.94>0.17>0.02)μg/g. Hg was within the safe limits while Ni and Cd were seen to be above the safe limits for human consumption. It is recommended that further studies of heavy metals should be carried out to monitor the physicochemical parameters and the heavy metal content of the creek.