Volume 6, Issue 12, December – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

Pilot Testing on the Feasibility in A Study on the

Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Tissues of Tilapia
Zilli Exposed to Liquid Habitat from River Challawa
* Ovye Akyengoa, Kabiru Abdullahi Bichi a, Oyekunle Oluwole Adegboyegaa, Agbara Stephen Agbarab and Faiza Garba Harunaa.
a. Effluent and Pollution Monitoring Centre, Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology, Zawaciki, Kano state.
b. School of Secondary Education (Sciences), Federal College of Education (Technical), Bichi, Kano state.

Abstract:- Pilot testing was undertaken prior to a to increase their chances of survival throughout the
bioassay to be carried out using Tilapia Zillii as the test period of the bioassay. After the exposure for 24 hours to
model which would be exposed to liquid habitats from the test liquid habitat and control, liver and skeletal
River Challawa, Kano State, to access the differential muscle tissues were analyzed for heavy metals and iron
bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Cd, Al, Zn, Cu had the highest in both tissues and across the liquid
and Fe) to liver and skeletal muscles. A pilot study is a habitats, with the concentration of 4.138 to 9.276 mg/kg
reflection of the procedure of the main (large scale) study for liver tissues across the liquid habitats and 2.812 to
and is used to validate the feasibility of every part of the 6.857 mg/kg for skeletal muscle across the liquid habitats,.
study protocol. From the physicochemical and heavy Finding of the pilot testing, indicate that the feasibility of
metals of the test liquid habitat and the control, all the the main (large scale) study is achievable with alteration
parameters assayed for where above the maximum in few areas such as: introduction of aerators and the
permissible limit set by Federal ministry of Environment duration.
for surface water, dissolved oxygen however was below
6.0 mg/L which is required for optimal metabolism of Keywords:- Pilot Testing, Bioaccumulation, Feasibility,
Tilapia zillii and subsequently, aerators were introduced Heavy Metals.

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Volume 6, Issue 12, December – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
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I. INTRODUCION directly to field samples, the toxicity of any chemical
including those not on the standard test list can be revealed in
Accumulation of heavy metals in the aquatic a single test, in addition bioavailability of heavy metals
environment has direct consequences for human and the influenced by its affinities to the tissue of the organism as
ecosystem, the most significant problem associated with well as other unfavorable factor could be uncovered(Chu and
heavy metals in the environment include accumulation Chow,2002). Contamination of freshwater bodies with a wide
through the food chain and persistence in nature with their variety of pollutants especially heavy metals has been a
toxicity (King and Jonathan, 2003;Dimari et al.,2008). The matter of concern over the decade, not only because of the
contamination of fresh water body with a wide range of threat to public water supply but also the damage to aquatic
pollutant has become a matter of great concern over the last life and their ecosystem, humans consume mostly the muscle
decades (Vutukuru, 2005; Dirilgen, 2001), the natural aquatic of fish and the liver a representative level of contamination of
system may extensively be contaminated with heavy metals the organism due to the fact that it is the main organ of
released from domestic, industrial and other man-made detoxification. Bioaccumulation studies at the cellular level
activities (Velez and Montero, 1998). could be a critical factor in determining the extent of
contamination of tissues and also to the degree of hazard that
Fishes, being major component of most aquatic habitats could result from the consumption of these fish by end
have been recognized as good bioaccumulators of organic consumers.
and in-organic pollutants (King and Jonathan. 2003); the
extent to which fish binds and accumulate heavy metals can Prior to undertaking these bioassay using Tilapia zillii
be a bioindicator of the extent of potential toxicity arising as a test sample exposed to liquid habitat from River
from the ingestion of the fish (Jizierska and Witerska,2006). Challawa to assess the differential bioaccumulation of some
heavy metals to muscles and liver tissues of the fish, the main
Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a study covers obtaining live Tilapia zillii from Tiga Dam and
potentially toxic substance at a rate faster than that, at which subsequent exposure of the live samples to liquid habitats
it is lost by catabolism or excretion. The degree of from two sampling stations using a modified enclosure in the
contamination is determined by the biochemical process of form of the Malian trap, a pilot study was undertaken to
heavy metals binding to tissues, the binding is a function of determine the feasibility of the study. A pilot is a reflection
both bioavailability and affinity of the metals in the tissue of the procedure of the main study and is used to validate the
(Jizierska and Witerska,2006).the bioaccumulation of heavy feasibility of every part of the study protocol (Junyong,
metals in fish is an important factor in the degree of 2017). Analyzing its feasibility prior to performing the main
contamination of fish and by extension the risk level to man, study (also known as the full study or large-scale main trial)
accurate assessment of both the bioaccumulation of heavy can be very beneficial for this purpose. A pilot study is the
metals and their bioaffinity for different tissues would shed first step of the entire research protocol and is often a smaller-
light to the key question of the extent of the risk posed to sized study assisting in planning and modification of the main
human consumption of fish(Ovye et al.,2019).The study (Arnold et al., 2009). Historically, pilot and feasibility
accumulation of metal in fish in sub lethal exposure is time studies were not usually reported, and nor were they topics of
dependent. Usually, in the initial period of exposure metal is much discussion in the research literature. While to some
absorbed and accumulated at a high rate, and then the level extent this continues to be the case in educational research,
stabilizes when equilibrium of metal uptake and excretion pilot and feasibility studies have recently become the focus of
rate is attained. Metal distribution in various organs is also extensive debate in the health related literature. It would be
time-related. Accumulation of metals in the organs of fish is beneficial if similar attention were given to pilot and
a function of uptake and elimination rates, and metal feasibility studies in the broader research context (Fraser et
concentrations in various organs may change during and after al., 2018).
exposure, according to various patterns. The effect of time on
metal distribution within the organism is a complex issue due II. MATERIALS AND METHOD
to different affinity of various metals to the tissues of various
fish species (Jezierska and Witeska, 2001).  Materials
analytical grade chemicals were used without further
Most exposure studies (bioassay) of heavy metals purification in this study, Hydrochloric acid (99.9%), Nitric
carried out using fish species had made use of chemical acid (90,00%) obtained from Sigma-Aldrich was used for the
additives comprising of few reference heavy metals of known wet –aqua regia digestion, digital conductivity meter (Ddb-
concentration under laboratory condition (Machino et 303a) was used to measured electrical conductivity , Double
al.,2014), since field samples often contain unidentified beam atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Dw-AA320NR)
component, appropriate referencing of all toxicant may not be was used to measure the heavy metals, 752UV-Vis
practical, thus whole sample analysis with a bioindicator spectrophotometer was used to measure nitrate content of the
animal (such as fish) was proposed by United State liquid habitats, PH820 pH meter was used to measure the pH
Environmental Protection Agency to circumvent this , Tilapia zillii was obtained from Tiga dam with the assistance
limitation (Wieber, 1993). By exposing test organisms of local fishermen using a cast net.

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Volume 6, Issue 12, December – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
 Study Area was built between 1971 to 1974 by the administration of
River Challawa is the second largest River system in Governor Audu Bako in an attempt to improve food security
Kano state After River Kano, it is about 50km in length through irrigation, the dam covers an area of 178 square
flowing eastward to finally join River Hadejia (Hussain and kilometers and has a maximum capacity 2,000,000 (two
Ibrahim, 2017).it has a confluence with River Kano at million) cubic metres (Edwards, 2002). Irrigation and fishing
Tamburawa that is located 20km south of Kano metropolis, are the major activities that go on in the dam and informed
the River represent major source of water for agricultural, the use of the dam as a control for this study. Two sampling
industrial and domestic activities in Kano metropolis and stations located in the River Challawa namely: station 1 and
environs (Kawo and Daneji, 2011). A major industrial layout station 2, station 1 is location upstream before the point where
Challawa industrial estate is sited near the River and majority the effluent enter the River and station 2 downstream after
of the effluent from the estate often end up drained into the the point of entry point of effluent as shown in figure 1.
River (Mustapha et al., 2019). On the other hand, Tiga dam

Fig 1:- A Graphical Sketch of Challawa Industrial and River Challawa Showing the Sample Stations.

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Volume 6, Issue 12, December – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
 Collection of Test Sample  Bioaccumulation Factor
For the purpose of these pilot study 90 fishes (tilapia Bioaccumulation refers to the process by which a
zillii) were obtained from Tiga dam in Kano state, weighing chemical substance is absorbed in an organism by all routes
about 60-100gwith the assistance of local fishermen, the of exposure in natural environment, that is, dietary and
samples were move to a large plastic container containing ambient environmental sources (Arnot et al., 2003). It could
water and transported to the site of the study, after which they also be referred to as the increase in the level of xenobiotic in
were administered anti-stressant (Bio-elite Anti –stress biological organism overtime especially when compared to
®),the fish were divided into three groups namely; station the level of the xenobiotic in the environment (Gupta et al.,
1(30 fishes), station 2 (30 fishes) and control (30 fishes). and 2013). Bioaccumulation factor is the ratio of the
where kept in the enclosure (modified Malian trap), the concentration of a particular chemical in the organism or
enclosure is cylindrical in shape and has a frame made up of tissue of an organism to the concentration in the environment
cane covered with polyamide synthetic netting with stretched and is calculated by the expression (eqn 1) below.
mesh size of 25.4nm, there was no entry point in the enclosure
as no fish was intended to be caught, the enclosure had a 𝑩𝑨𝑭
length of 2.0 metres and breadth of 1.4 metres and were. The 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒎 𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒆
control group was treated to liquid habitat from where the fish =
𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕
were obtained (Tiga dam) and were kept in a polyvinyl − − − − − −𝒆𝒒𝒏 𝟏
chloride (PVC) tank for the same period as other groups. PVC Source: Jezierska and witesta, 2001
materials were used due to the stability of materials used and
reduced effect of leaching of materials. All grouped samples Bioaccumulation factor is one of the methods of
were fed with commercial feed (fish meal: protein content assessing bioaccumulation in an organism and is important
57.7%, fat 1.8% conversion ratio 2:1) for evaluating the risks a chemical possess to humans and the
environment (Arnot et al., 2003). It indicates how persistent
 Sample Collection, Preparation and Heavy Metal a xenobiotic is in the biological organism especially to
Analysis. biotransformation and subsequently to excretion.
Before the period of exposure the different liquid
habitats were collected and some heavy metal concentration  Physicochemical Properties
(Pb, Cr, Cd, Al, Zn, Cu and Fe) of the liquid habitat and Physicochemical analyses of the different liquid habitats
physiochemical parameters. Heavy metals analysis were were carried out according to methods described by America
determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer; Public Health Association (APHA) 1999. The parameters
while. After the period of exposure (24 hours), 2 fishes were analysed include: pH, temperature, electrical conductivity,
withdrawn from each station with the aid of a gill net. After dissolved oxygen, sulphate, total alkalinity, total suspended
obtaining the sample, samples from the various group were solids, total dissolved solids, chloride, and nitrate.
dissected to obtain the tissues namely; the liver and muscle
tissue. The muscle tissue was collected from the left side of The presence of chloride in natural water are mainly
the fish, above the lateral line and between the dorsal fin and attributed to dissolution of salts deposit in the form of (Cl)
the caudal fin; this is to prevent contamination by the content ions in alkaline or neutral solution, potassium chloride
of the abdominal cavity (POPs kits, 2012). The liver was indicate the end point of titration of silver nitrate and chloride,
subsequently obtained with clean equipment and a new latex yielding silver chloride.
glove was use for each fish. Samples of liquid habitat of the
experimental animals and their control were collected and Fifty (50) ml of filtered sample is placed into a conical
analysed. And to assess the rate of bioaccumulation with flask and 0.5 ml of potassium chromate indicator is added and
time, 2 fishes were withdrawn whole tissues of the test sample titrated against standard silver nitrate till silver dichromate
was obtained from the two test station after varied period of (AgCrO4) starts precipitating. Chloride is then determined by
exposure namely; 1st hour, 2nd hour,3rd hour, 4th hour,6th the expression in eqn 8.
hour,10th hour,14th hour,22nd hour and 24th hour.
Chloride= (A-B(N)(35.45))/(sample taken in ml)--------Eqn 2
Acid digestion were followed by atomic absorption A= volume of silver nitrate consumed by the sample
spectrophotometry, the fish samples organs (liver and B= volume of silver nitrate consumed by the blank
muscle) was collected fresh and then dried separately for 24 N= normality of silver nitrate
hours to constant weight in an oven at 105 °C. An aqua regia
wet method of digestion as described by Ang and Lee (2005) Nitrates react with phenol disulphonic acid and produce
was used. Briefly, to 1 g of ground samples, 18 ml of a fresh a nitrate derivative which in alkaline solution develops
mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid in the ratio of 3:2 yellow colour due to rearrangement of its structure. The
was added, the mixture was boiled over a water bath (95 °C). colour is directly proportional to the concentration of nitrate
After complete digestion, the residue was made up to 50 ml present in the sample.
with distilled water. Digested sample was stored in pre-
cleaned polyethylene bottles until analysis using atomic
absorption spectrophotometer.

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Volume 6, Issue 12, December – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
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50 ml of sample was pippeted into a porcelain dish and III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
evaporated to dryness in a hot water bath, 2 ml of phenol
disulphonic acid was added to concentrated ammonium  Preliminary Report
hydroxide and distilled water was added with stirring to make From the pilot study it was observed that the feasibility
it alkaline. The mixture was filtered into a beaker and made of the research as a field study was not achievable, this was
up to 50 ml with distilled water and absorbance read at 410 due to the inability of the test model to survive for a long
nm using a spectrophotometer after the development of duration, as they lasted for barely only 6 hours on
colour concentration of nitrate is given in eqn 3 below. introduction to the liquid habitats.

Nitrate (mg/l) = (Absorbance of sample ×concentration o To overcome these challenges faced during the pilot
standard ×100)/(Absorbance of standard ×volume of samples study the following measures were taken:
)---Eqn 3
 The research was reverted from a field study to a
Total alkalinity is the total concentration of bases in laboratory study, and the fish sampled was kept in large
water expressed as parts per million, these bases are usually PVC containers containing the various different liquid
Bicarbonates (HCO3) and Carbonate (CO3 )and they act as a habitats.
buffer system that prevents drastic changes in PH. It is  Aerators were introduced to increase oxygen level and
measured by a titrimetric method with Hcl used as the acid also improve the chances of survival of the Tilapia zillii.
for titration. The expression for total alkalinity is given by
Eqn 4 below.  Result Of Pilot Study
The pilot study which was undertaken by introducing
Total Alkalinity (mg/l) = (ml of Hcl with Phenohalein and Tilapia zillii to the different liquid habitat from the control
methyl orange × normality of Hcl ×1000 ×50 )/(ml of and the two stations and exposing them for a period of 24
sample)-Eqn 4 hours, samples were collected after 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 14, 22 and
24 hours from the two test liquid habitats. From the results
Dissolved solids are solids that are in a dissolved state obtained there were increase in the level of these heavy metals
in solution. Water with high dissolved solids severally can after different duration of exposure as presented in figure 2
induce unfavorable physiological reaction in the transient and figure 3. There was general increase in the level of all
consumer. The difference in the weight of total solid and the heavy metals after exposure for 1 and 2 hours in both test
total suspended solid expressed in mg/l (Eqn 5). 50 ml of liquid habitat, the increase in the heavy metals was not
rigorously shaken sample is filtered into a pre weighted fibre continuous, as the levels of some heavy metals reduced with
disk fitted into a suction pump and washed successively with respect to preceding period after increased period of
distilled water. The filtrate is now heated in evaporating dish exposure. Also from the pilot study it was observed that the
of known weight at 103 ºC in an oven until dryness is feasibility of the research for the period proposed was in
achieved. doubt unless certain steps were taken, this was due to the
inability of the test model to survive for a long duration, as
TDS (mg/l)=(〖W_(f- ) W〗_i× 1000× 1000)/(volume of they lasted for barely only 6 hours on introduction to the
sample)-------------Eqn 5 liquid habitats. To investigate the reasons behind this
Wi = Initial weight of evaporated dish observation, a physicochemical analysis of the different test
Wf = final weight of evaporated dish. liquid habitat was carried out.

Total suspended solids (TSS) are those solids which are Analysis of physicochemical parameters of the sampled
retained by the filters of 1 micrometer pores as they are called liquid habitat is presented in table 1. It shows that electrical
non-filterable solids. Their quantity can be determined by conductivity had values ranging from 990 s/ms to 3270
passing a known volume of water sample (usually 50 ml) s/ms , TDS has values ranging from 155 mg/l to a maximum
through a glass fiber filter apparatus and the filter is carefully of 1568 mg/l, TSS had its low values of 55.48 mg/l and its
removed from the filtration apparatus and dried for an hour at highest value of 55.48 mg/l. all parameters were above safety
103 °C in an oven, cooled in an dessicator and weighed for limits set by the Federal ministry of environment for surface
construct weigh. TSS is given by the expression (Eqn 6). water bodies with the exception of sulphate which had its
highest recorded concentration as 235.79 mg/l, being below
TSS (mg/l)=W_(1- ) W_2×1000-----------Eqn 6 the maximum permissible limit of 500 mg/l. Dissolved
oxygen was never up to the required standard of minimum of
for dissolved oxygen, dilution was prepared appropriate, 6 mg/l, DO is very essential in fish as it is use for aerobic
for the samples to be tested and the diluted samples are metabolic for energy production. To overcome these
transferred to corresponding glass stoppered bottles,heated to challenge aerators were introduced to increase oxygen level
200C and then dissolved oxygen of the sample was measured and also improve the chances of survival of the Tilapia zillii.
in mg/L using dissolved oxygen meter with electrode. Physicochemical analysis of the three liquid habitats
presented a poor condition of the habitats, with parameters
W1= weight of dried glass fibre filter and residue such as electrical conductivity; TDS and TSS were above
W2= weight of glass fibre filter disk before filtering. limits set by the federal ministry of environment for surface
water. DO which was not up to the required minimum of 6.0

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Volume 6, Issue 12, December – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
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mg/l, DO which is very essential in fish for aerobic including: high water surface frequency with mouth and
metabolism leading to energy production. Tilapia has been opercula opening erratic swimming which agrees with report
reported to breed effectively with a DO of 4.0 mg/l and by (Dahunsi et al., 2012).
optimally at 6.5 mg/l (Broaders et al., 2005).
Increase in temperature increases the rate of
The levels of TDS and TSS were indicative of the high accumulation of heavy metals by increasing the solubility of
level of organic matter in the various habitats especially the heavy metals, tissue permeability and metabolic rate as
test liquid habitat, which serve as a suitable medium for reported by (Perlman, 2013). Physicochemical factors such
microorganism which compete with fish and other aquatic as: temperature, pH, total acidity, total hardness and salinity
animals for the limited available oxygen, these findings agree affects the uptake and accumulation of heavy metals in tissues
with that of (Putshaka et al., 2015). In the course of these pilot of fishes, as increase in any of this factors will directly or
studies the fish samples exposed to the two test liquid habitats indirectly affect the rate of accumulation of heavy metals in
(upstream and downstream) display abnormal responses fish (Jizierska and Witeska, 2006).

Parameters Control Station 1 Station 2 MPL by Fed. Min. of

Envir.
Conductivity (s/ms) 990 ±6.255 2530 ±12.345 3270 ±20.456 1000
TDS (Mg/l) 155 ±4.774 1007 ±7.667 1568 ±11.222 500
TSS (Mg/l) 58.78 ±2.667. 53.68 ±3.456 55.48 ±6.778 30
Chloride (Mg/l) 179.250 ±11.223 214.750 ±9.897 397.010 ±8.342 350
Total alkalinity (Mg/l) 23.20 ±2.345 41.20 ±2.348 48.80 ±3.412 250
Sulphate (Mg/l) 53.98 ±2.346 177.74 ±8.726 235.79 ±12.663 500
Phosphate (Mg/l) 6.15 ±0567 5.25 ±0.456 9.93 ±1.332 3.5
pH 6.50 ±0.78 6.80 ±0.679 8.10 ±1.876 6.5-8.5
DO (Mg/l) 3.80 ±0.568 1.08 ±0.334 0.86 ±0.115 Minimum of 6
Table 1:- Physicochemical analysis of Pilot Study Liquid Habitats and maximum permissible limit set by Federal Ministry of
environment for Surface water
Legend: MPL= Maximum Permissible limit; TDS= Total dissolved solute; TSS= Total suspended Solute; DO= Dissolved Oxygen

9.000

Al
8.000
Fe
Zn
Heavy metal concentration (Mg/Kg)

7.000
Cu
Pb
6.000
Cr
Cd
5.000

4.000

3.000

2.000

1.000

0.000
ctrl 1 2 3 4 6 10 14 22 24
Peroid of exposure (hours)

Fig 2:- Showing a graph of concentration of heavy metals in whole tissues of Tilapia zillii against time of exposure to liquid
habitat from station 1 upstream of River Challawa.

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Volume 6, Issue 12, December – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
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10.000

9.000
Al
Fe
8.000
Zn
7.000 Cu
Pb
Heavy metals concentrations(Mg/Kg)

6.000 Cr
Cd
5.000

4.000

3.000

2.000

1.000

0.000
ctrl 1 2 3 4 6 10 14 22 24
Peroid of exposure(hours)

Fig 3:- Showing a graph of concentration of heavy metals in whole tissue of Tilapia zillii against time of exposure to liquid
habitats from station 2 downstream of River Challawa.

Also the heavy metal levels of the liquid habitat was shows that the heavy metals examined were all above safe
assessed and results are as presented in table 2. From the limits stipulated by the federal ministry of Environment and
results presented in table 2, analysis of heavy metals shows are considered deleterious, unsafe and poses a threat to the
that iron which had the highest concentration with values survival of aquatic life, this results agrees with findings of
ranging from 5.750 ppm to as high as 12.822 ppm, while zinc (Putshaka et al., 2015). Tilapia zillii accumulate heavy metals
had a concentration ranging from 4.142 ppm to as high as in their tissue after exposure to these heavy metals in the
8.720 ppm, and lead which had the lowest concentration had liquid habitats, zinc was the most abundant metal in the whole
values ranging from 0.217 ppm to as high as 1.851 ppm. The tissue of Tilapia zillii after exposure for 24 hours this finding
levels of all the heavy metals of the test habitats are is in agreement with work by Orata and Birgen, (2016) which
deleterious, unsafe and were all above the safety limit set by studied three different fish species and found zinc to be the
the Federal Ministry of Environment for surface water bodies. most abundant in all the tissues examined.
Results from heavy metals analysis of the test liquid habitats

Metal Control Station 1 Station 2 MPL by Fed. Min. of Envr.

Cadmium 0.012 ±0.06 1.632 ±0.45 4.021 ±0.80 0.010
Chromium 0.083 ±0.02 1.002 ±0.33 4.133±0.25 0.500
Lead 0.217 ±0.56 0.824 ±0.72 1.851 ±0.15 0.100
Aluminium 0.403 ±0.80 1.411 ±0.63 3.420 ±0.42 0.900
Iron 5.750 ±0.65 8.530 ±0.33 12.822 ±0.13 0.500
Zinc 4.142 ±0.32 6.861 ±0.51 8.720 ±0.19 0.200
Copper 1.327 ±0.19 3.850 ±0.030 4.215 ±0.28 0.010
Table 2:- Mean Heavy metal concentration ± Standard Deviation in Control, Station 1, Station 2 and maximum permissible limit
set by Federal Ministry of Environment for surface water.
Legend: MPL= maximum permissible limits by Federal Ministry of Environment. (Federal Ministry of Environment, 2011)

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Cu(mg/kg) Cd(mg/kg) Cr(mg/kg) Zn(mg/kg) Al(mg/kg) Pb(mg/kg) Fe(mg/kg)
L-C 0.421±0.01 0.008±0.01 0.002±0.01 2.457±0.06 0.014±0.01 0.028±0.01 4.138±0.09
SM-C 0.209±0.03 0.010±0.01 0.001±0.01 0.467±0.01 0.006±0.01 0.016±0.01 2.812±0.04
L- ST 1 2.441±0.01 0.948±0.00 0.411±0.02 5.282±0.07 0.255±0.02 0.327±0.03 6.859±0.06
SM- ST 1 1.146±0.02 0.446±0.02 0.206±0.01 4.212±0.05 0.128±0.01 0.116±0.03 4.894±0.02

L- ST 2 3.441±0.03 1.948±0.04 2.148±0.05 7.488±0.08 2.416±0.02 0.672±0.05 9.276±0.15

SM-ST 2 2.164±0.05 0.981±0.01 0.914±0.01 5.921±0.04 1.211±0.03 0.247±0.03 6.857±0.04
Table 3:- Mean Concentration ± standard deviation of heavy metals (mg/kg) in liver and muscle tissues of Tilapia zillii exposed to
three test liquid habitats
Legend: LC = Liver control; SMC = skeletal Muscle Control; LS1 = Liver station 1; SMS1 = Skeletal Muscle station 1; LS2 =
Liver station 2; SMS2 = Skeletal Muscle station 2

After exposure of Tilapia zillii the different liquid 0.006 mg/kg to 0.247 mg/kg across all the three test liquid
habitats for 24 hours, heavy metals analysis was carried out habitats. Generally all the heavy metals where above the
for body tissues (liver and skeletal muscle tissues) and liquid maximum permissible limit stipulated by Federal Ministry of
habitats to obtain the bioaccumulation factor for liver tissues Environment, except in few cases where the control liquid
and skeletal muscle tissues (figure 4). Results of heavy metals habitat had aluminium and chromium concentration below
analysis in the two tissues of liver and skeletal tissues of limit set. The concentration of heavy metal in the different
Tilapia zillii as presented in table 3 shows that iron had the habitat were in this order Fe  Zn Cu  Cd  Al  Cr  Pb.
highest concentration in the tissues with concentration of Liver tissues of the test model generally showed higher level
4.138 mg/kg (liver), 2.812 mg/kg (skeletal muscle) for of bioaccumulation across all the heavy metal tested for when
control liquid habitat, while 6.859 (liver) 4.894 (skeletal compared to their corresponding skeletal muscle tissues,
muscles) for the liquid habitat upstream and 9.276 (liver) and while the tissues exposed to downstream liquid habitat
6.857 (skeletal muscles) for liquid habitats downstream. Lead generally had higher level of bioaccumulation compared to
had the least observed concentration with the liver having a corresponding tissues exposed to other test liquid habitats.
concentration ranging from 0.028 mg/kg to 0.672 mg/kg and
skeletal muscles having a concentration that ranged between

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
liver (control)
0.5 skeletal muscle(control)

0.4 liver(station 1)
skeletal muscle(station 1)
0.3
liver (station 2)
0.2
skeletal muscle (station 2
0.1

Fig 4:- Bioaccumulation factor for liver and skeletal muscles tissues of Tilapia zillii exposed to the test liquid habitats for a
duration of 24 hours.

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Volume 6, Issue 12, December – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Heavy metals analysis of the liver and skeletal muscles  Declaration of Competing Interest
tissues of Tilapia zillii revealed that the liver had a higher The authors declare that they have no known competing
accumulation of these metals when compared to the skeletal financial interest or personal relationship that could have
muscle across all the three liquid habitats considered, this appeared to influence the work reported in this paper
pattern is in tandem with observation made by other authors
in a number of studies (Rashed, 2001; Dural et al., 2006; ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Ploetz et al., 2007; Agah et al., 2009).
The authors wish to acknowledge the Effluent and
Bioaccumulation factor calculated for liver tissues and Pollution Monitoring Centre, Nigerian Institute of Leather
skeletal muscles tissues of Tilapia zillii exposed to the three and Science Technology (NILEST) Kano, Nigeria for the use
liquid habitats, of these liquid habitats. The downstream of their laboratory facility to carry out these work at no
habitat had higher bioaccumulation factors with the exception financial cost to the researcher.
of iron where the control had high values; these patterns were
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