Variation of the concentrations of some heavy metal ions in fish and shrimps samples from Urua Otor Market in Ikot Ekpene LGA of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Dr Richard Ukpe

Authors

Dr Richard Ukpe Federal University Otuoke

Keywords:

Heavy metals, fish

Abstract

Background: Expeditious expansion and industrial development near the rivers have led to more stress on the river and with increased stress, the water becomes polluted with organic and inorganic substances such as organometallic compounds, cadmium and lead. The aquatic organisms, including fish and shrimps consumed from these rivers transfer of these metals into the human system which may be toxic to humans at some certain concentrations. This research work was undertaken to examine the variation of the concentrations of some heavy metal ions in fish and shrimps samples from Urua Otor Market in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State Nigeria.

Methods: The samples obtained from Urua Otor Market in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria were rapped with aluminium foil and stored at -4 °C for analysis. Dry ashing and acid digestion methods were employed in this work. AAS was used for the determination of the metal ions.

Results: Pearson correlation statistics was employed for the analysis of the results. The study showed that the heavy metal concentrations in both fish and shrimp were high with Zn 22.260 mg/kg and 43.06 mg/kg respectively. Cd were found to be the least with 2.005 mg/kg and 2.505mg/kg in fish and shrimp respectively. A strong significant and positive correlation (p ≤ 0.05) were observed between both samples of fish and shrimp; R² = 0.9333.

Conclusion: The R²value of 0.9333, suggested that both organisms had a common contamination source. All the analyzed heavy metal ions were divalent except Cr³⁺, suggesting that the effect of ionic radius might have over ridden that of the charge; thereby affecting the adsorption of those heavy metal ions

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