Assessment of Heavy Metal Concentrations of Selected Fin and Shell Fish from Ogoniland

Abstract

Heavy metals in selected fin and shell fishes from Bodo and Kaa in Ogoniland were studied. Heavy metals concentrations were determined by Atomic absorption spectroscopy. There were detectable levels of heavy metals in samples from both test site (Bodo) and control site (Kaa). The concentrations of all heavy metals for samples were significantly lower at p<0.05 for samples from Kaa than samples from Bodo. Some of the heavy metals detected in samples were above the maximum permissible limits as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) for heavy metals in fish. These findings suggest that the study sites were contaminated with heavy metals. This indicates that the consumption of fishes from the study areas would lead to severe health risks.

Keywords: Fin fish, Shell fish, and Heavy metals.