Distribution and Health Risk Assessment of Selected Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Two Fish Species Obtained from Choba River in Rivers State, Nigeria

摘要

The concentration of selected endocrine disrupting chemicals in tissues of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (catfish) and Liza falcipinnis (mullet) obtained from Choba river in Rivers State, Nigeria was analyzed to determine their levels and possible hazard for human consumption. Pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls were assessed using gas chromatography coupled with electron capture detector. Heavy metals analysis was carried out using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The concentration of pesticides ranged from 0.0013±0.0002 to 0.0130±0.0002 μg/l and 0.0077±0.0000 to 0.0390±0.0001μg/g in water and sediments, respectively. Similarly, pesticides concentration ranged from 0.0001±0.0000 to 0.0171±0.0002μg/g and 0.0002±0.0001 to 0.0385±0.0002μg/g respectively. The concentration of PCBs in analyzed fish ranged from 0.2439±0.0001 to 0.2683±0.0003μg/g in the muscle and liver, respectively. Heavy metal concentration ranged from 0.004±0.001 to 0.460±0.002μg/g for cadmium and mercury, respectively. Risk hazard estimates of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes, Chlordanes, hexachlorobenzene, and heavy metals (Cd, Cr) in the studied fishes showed no potential adverse effect to human consumption at the observed concentrations. Mercury was high in all fish analyzed with a quotient value greater than unity indicating potential mercury poisoning. The cancer risk was also evaluated according to USEPA, (2005) and was within acceptable risk range of 10~(-4). Thus exposed populations are not at cancer risk through consumption of fish.