Heavy Metal Loads In Catfish Obtained From Ponds In Umudike:- Madugba, Victoria T

ABSTRACT viii This study was designed to determine the level of four toxic heavy metals: lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic in cat fish (C. gariepinus) gotten from ponds in Umudike, Umuahia. Heavy metal concentration in the flesh of the fish was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Lead had the highest concentration (0.46mg/kg), arsenic had a concentration of (0.38mg/kg) and cadmium had a concentration of (0.43mg/kg) while mercury had the lowest concentration of (0.30mg/kg). Lead, arsenic and cadmium exceeded the maximum permissible limits prescribed by the world Health Organization guideline. Higher levels pf heavy metals accumulated by the fishes might be due to increase in the agricultural influx waters, domestic wastes and some anthropogenic activities.