Human Health Risk Assessment of Trace Metals Due to Dietary Intake of Edible Fishes Obtained from Qua Iboe River, Ibeno Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State

This study assessed the level of five trace metals (Cr, Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb) in the muscles and gills of five different fish species (Oreochromis niloticus (ON), Pseudotolithus typus (PT), Caranx hippos (CH), Ethmalosa fimbriata (EF), and Polydactylus quadrifilis (PQ)), water, and sediments collected from Qua Iboe River, Ibeno local government area. Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The samples were digested with aqua regia (HCl and HNO3; 3:1) and analyzed with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer for Cr, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Pb. The results obtained showed that chromium accumulated more in the gills than in the muscles and zinc accumulate much in the muscles than in the gills. Zn concentrations in the examined fish muscles ranged from 3.44 to 507.0 mg/kg dry weight. The mean Zn concentrations in the gills of fish species ranged from 1.03 to 20.70 mg/kg. The observed levels of Cu in the water samples analyzed in this study were above the permissible limits. On a general note, all the computed hazard index (HI) values for adults in the muscles, gills, water, and sediment were mostly below unity. In conclusion, all the hazard quotient (HQ) values calculated for adults consuming both the muscles and gills analyzed were all below unity indicating low or no toxic risks.