Assesment Of Four Heavy Metals In Oven Dried Fish (C.Gariepinus):- Chukwu, Celine A

ABSTRACT ix Heavy metals are found naturally in the earth and is noted for its potential toxicity. They become concentrated as a result of human caused activities and can enter plant, animals and human tissues via inhalation, diet (food) and manual handling. Heavy metals have particular application to cadmium, mercury, lead and arsenic. Fish is One ofthe aquatic species and its toxic level can be used for the estimation of heavy metals; the processing method is said to affect the level of heavy metals already present to its toxic form due to exposure of heat. This study was aimed at determining the contamination of heavy metals in oven dried fish sold in Umuahia, Nigeria. The samples were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). From the result obtained, Lead had the highest concentration (0.63mg/kg), arsenic had a concentration of (0.36mg/kg), cadmium had a concentration of (0.52mg/kg) while mercury had the least concentration of (0.34mg/kg). The mean concentration of lead and cadmium in oven dried fish was above the World Health Organization (WHO) standard values, therefore it is said to be toxic and can cause harmful effect if consumed. The level of toxicity of arsenic indicates a nonsignificantly higher value compared to WHO guidelines, this shows that the presence of heavy metals load at very low concentration does not have effect on human. Therefore, it is said to be non-toxic. The accumulation of heavy metals in fishes might be due to increase in agricultural activities, domestic wastes and counting but processing/preservative method could also affect the level ofheavy metals already present to its toxic form.