Distribution of metals in <i>Labeo coubie</i> (Ruppel, 1832) from a National Park river in Nigeria

Abstract

This study assesses heavy metals distribution in body parts of Labeo coubie (African carp) from River Oli, in Kainji Lake National Park as pollution index of the ecosystem. Fish parts samples (gills, muscles and vertebra bone) were prepared and specifically analyzed for the levels of Pb, Cr, Zn, Cu, Fe and Cd using Atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The concentration of metals in the samples at different concentrations ranged from 0.001±0.000 μg/g for Cd to 224.87±4.07 μg/g of Fe in the fish gill. There is significant (p Muscles > Vertebra bones, Fe and Zinc; Gills > Vertebra bones > Muscles while Cr was distributed in Muscles > Gill > Vertebra bones. However, it is revealed that Labeo coubie, a euryphagus fish probably absorb these metals through ingestion of contaminated food or absorption by the gills and bioaccumulate in different fish parts. It is therefore established that River Oli is contaminated with heavy metals as presence of these metals in fish is an indication of its immediate environment. Keywords: absorption, bioaccumulation, fish parts, heavy metals, pollution

Keywords

• absorption, bioaccumulation, fish parts, heavy metals, pollution