Evaluation of Potential Human Health Risk Associated With Consumption of Heavy Metal Contaminated Fish from Orashi River in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

This work investigated six heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Cd, Zn, Cu and Fe) concentration in two bony fish (Clarias gariepinus and Tilapia niloticus) obtained from five (5) station in Orashi River in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, River state using atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and evaluate the human health risks associated with their consumption. Heavy metal content in fish obtained from the study ranged as follows: (1) Catfish Cd from 1.0 - 3.9mg/kg in all the stations. Zn (22 - 213.2mg/kg), Cu (10.9 - 33mg/kg), Fe (0.02 - 2.5mg/kg) and (2) Tilapia Cd ranged from 0.1 - 4.2mg/kg in all the stations, Zn (30.1 - 196mg/kg), Cu (17.3 - 40.6mg/kg) and Fe (0.1 - 5.6mg/kg). Pb and Cr were not detected in all the stations sampled. The mean concentrations of the parameters studied in some samples were close to or exceeded World Health Organization 1 and Federal Ministry of Environment recommended limits for drinking water and seafood. Statistical analysis of level of the studied metals in catfis