Introduction : Heavy metals are known to cause deleterious effects on human health through food chain. Aims: The study is aimed at assessing heavy metal concentrations in the tissues of four highly consumed fish species and to evaluate the potential health risks associated with their consumption. Materials and Methods: The concentrations of Cu, Cd and Pb were analyzed in the tissues of Titus (Scomber Japonicus), Croaker (Pseudolithus Elongatus), Scumbia (Ilisha Africana) and Shrimps (Pipeus Notialis) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) after digestion of the samples. Results: The results showed that Cd was not detected in the tissues of all fish species. There were variations among Cu and Pb concentrations in the tissues of the fish species. Cu had the highest concentrations (1.00 µg/g) in the tissues of croaker and shrimps respectively while Pb had the lowest concentrations (0.25 µg/g) in the tissues of Scumbia . The levels of all metals in the present study were lower than the limits permitted by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO), European Community Regulation (EU) and European Commission (EC). Assessment of noncarcinogenic health hazard using Target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) indicated no concern from consumption of these fish species. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of the studied metals through fish consumption was below the permissible tolerable daily intake. Conclusion: It can be concluded that there is no potential human health risk from consumption of the selected fish species. Keywords: Heavy metals, Hazard index, Target hazard quotient.
This study was conducted to evaluate the levels of heavy metal concentrations in sediments and also involves a comparison of two different digestion protocols. The first digestion procedure was done with a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid while the second digestion method was done using the United States Environmental Protection Agency method 3052 which comprises nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen peroxide. The sediment samples were analyzed for cadmium, copper, iron, lead, zinc, chromium, manganese, nickel (Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn Cr, Mn, and Ni) with the aid of atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Concentrations of metals ranged 0–7.0 mg/kg for Cr, 0.5–20.0 mg/kg for Cd, 10.8–112.0 mg/kg for Fe, 0.10–7.20 mg/kg for Pb, 45.69–184.96 mg/kg for Cu, 1.0–73.75 mg/kg for Zn, 1.5–19.7 mg/kg for Mn and nd −3.0 mg/kg for Ni. The order of concentrations of the metals in the samples are Cu > Fe > Zn > Cd > Mn > Pb > Cr > Ni. The second digestion method yielded higher levels of metal concentration. Comparison with theWorld Health Organization (W.H.O) standards for marine sediments showed that the average concentrations of heavy metals were within the permissible limits. Close monitoring and more publicity are further needed to discourage further pollution of the area.
Pharmaceutical compounds have been frequently detected in the aquatic environment globally and are suspected to have some negative health consequences. The present study evaluates the sources, occurrences, spatiotemporal variabilities, concentrations, and potential risks of some pharmaceutical residues in surface water of Isolo and Amuwo Odofin areas of Lagos Nigeria. surface water samples were collected bi-monthly for a period of twenty-four months. The samples were filtered with 0.45µm glass fiber and analyzed using HPLC with a UV detector. Solid-phase extraction was achieved with OASIS HLB cartridges C18 for pre-concentration of 500ml of the sample. The target analytes were acetaminophen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, metronidazole, amoxicillin, sulfadoxin, pyrimethamin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and caffeine. Levels of pharmaceutical residues (PRs) in the water samples ranged from 1.261-5.035ng / L for ibuprofen, 0.484 - 2.366ng / L for diclofenac, nd -3.57 ng / L for sulfadoxin, 0.976 -3.440 for ofloxacin, 0.585 - 0.706 ng / L for ciprofloxacin, 0.187-1.228ng / L for caffeine, 0.395-1.329 ng / L for acetaminophen and 0.032 – 0.598 ng / L for metronidazole. Amoxicillin and pyrimethamine were not detected in all the samples. The order of concentration of the pollutants are Ibuprofen > diclofenac > ofloxacin > sulfadoxin > acetaminophen> caffeine > caffeine > ciprofloxacin > metronidazole .Measured sample concentrations were compared with the approved values in “European Committee on antimicrobial susceptibility (EAUCAST)” database and some of the detected pharmaceutical compounds were found to be of high concentrations. Ecological risk assessments of each pharmaceutical active ingredient was evaluated and Rist Quotients (RQ) > 1 were found for metronidazole, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, indicating high risk. The need for improved wastewater treatment technologies cannot be over emphasized. Continuous monitoring and better regulatory frameworks may be necessary.
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