An Evaluation of Contaminant Body Burdens in Selected Fish Species: Associating Toxicity to Upgrade the Hazard Assessment

Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences

Victor E. Okpashi¹ 

关键词: PAHs;    Fish;    Body Burden;    Risk Assessment;    Toxicity;    Aquatic Pollution;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Hashemite University, Deanship of Research and Higher Studies

【 摘 要 】

The health problems that are related to chronic exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) include decreased immunity, Cataracts, kidney and liver damage, breathing problems, asthma or (lung- function abnormalities) skin redness and inflammation. Induced by a repeated contact with PAHs were found to cause various forms of cancer in aquatic animal models, especially a form that can easily integrate with the cell and corrupt the DNA. This study presents an assessment of the recalcitrant body residues of some legacy contaminants in selected fresh fish species. Three different species of fish, namely the African Red snapper (Lutjanus agennes), the Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), and the African cat- fish (Clarias gariepinus), were sampled in a 1-km stretch of the Qua Ibeo River, Nigeria. The specimens were screened for PAHs using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. This study revealed the sixteen priority PAHs, listed by the United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as carcinogenic. The bio-concentration factor was calculated as the ratio of the concentration of particular PAHs in the tissues to its water-free PAHs concentration. Results showed that the PAHs concentration is beyond the permissible limit. Considering these results, one can infer that the Qua Iboe River and the biota are contaminated by PAH, with the risks of bio-accumulation posing threats to human health through the consumption of fish and aquatic organism foods.

【 授权许可】

CC BY