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Heavy metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbon contaminants in smoked and fresh Clarias gariepinus from a cultured system in Lagos, Nigeria (959.5)
Author(s) -
Osuala Fidelia,
Igwo – Ezikpe Miriam,
Emmanuel Babatunde
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.959.5
Subject(s) - clarias gariepinus , smoked fish , chemistry , catfish , cadmium , phenanthrene , environmental chemistry , pyrene , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon , naphthalene , anthracene , heavy metals , hydrocarbon , toxicology , fish <actinopterygii> , biology , fishery , organic chemistry
This study investigated the level of heavy metals and poly ‐ aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in ten randomly selected life fresh and smoked African cat fish, Clarias gariepinus from a cultured system in Lagos, Nigeria using FAO / SIDA, 1983 method for heavy metals analysis while PAH was analysed using gas chromatograph ‐ mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). Heavy metals and PAHs were detected in both samples at varying concentration, with higher concentration of cadmium, lead and zinc in smoked fish though not significantly (P > 0.05) different from that in fresh fish whereas iron and copper were insignificantly (P > 0.05) higher in fresh fish. Naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene and benzo (g,h,i) perylene were higher in the smoked fishes though naphthalene and anthracene were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in smoked fishes than fresh fishes. The maximum concentration of lead was 0.0492 mg/kg which is higher than the EPA safety limit (0.001 mg/kg) while 2‐methylnaphthalene concentration was highest in the smoked fishes with a mean value of 4.13 mg/kg. The statistical analysis using one way ANOVA showed that there was significant (P < 0.05) differences in the heavy metals and PAH content in the fresh and smoked fish. This study suggests that smoked fish have higher concentrations of heavy metals and poly ‐ aromatic hydrocarbons which might pose health risk to humans when consumed.