Bioaccumulation of Some Trace Metals in Wild and Farm-Raised African Catfish Clarias gariepinus in Kaduna, Nigeria

Abstract

Bioaccumulation of some trace metals that occurred in juvenile and matured wild and farm-raised African catfish, Clarias gariepinus from River Kaduna and Fadama fish pond (Near NAF base, Kawo) was investigated by estimating trace metal concentration in the fish and water samples thereafter the transfer factor was evaluated. The concentration in (μg/g wet wt.) of Cu, Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cd and Pb for all fish samples ranged from 0.25-0.80, 0.42-0.61, ND-0.5, 0.10-0.75, 0.18-0.85, 1.25-3.2 and 0.1-0.7, that of water samples was 0.18-0.34, 0.45-0.73, 3.0-7.2, 0.53-0.93, 0.13-0.41, 1.5-4.5 and 0.1-1.25. while the transfer factors had a range of 0.658-2.353, 0.575-0.980, 0.058-0.1, 0.139-1.0, 0.04-02.0, 0.560-1.50 and 0.278-1.196, respectively. There were little variation in concentration of trace metals in the juvenile and matured catfishes from the wild except in Cadmium. In the farmed fish Iron was present in the matured fishes but was not detected in the juvenile fishes and there were no significant variations in other trace metals. This study showed that wild and farm-raised catfish can be exposed to minerals (metals) in one form or the other, therefore water quality should be maintained and monitored closely for sustainability of fish human health.