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Microplastics and Heavy Metals Contamination in Clarias gariepinus from Eleyele Reservoir, Nigeria, During Rainy Season: A Public Health Concern
Summary
Researchers found tiny plastic particles and heavy metals like lead, chromium, and nickel in catfish from a Nigerian reservoir, contaminants that showed up in the gills, liver, and even the muscle tissue that people actually eat. While the fish's flesh itself seemed safe from immediate harm, lead and chromium levels raised concerns about long-term cancer risk for people who eat this fish regularly, highlighting how pollution in waterways can quietly work its way up the food chain and onto our plates.
Microplastics and heavy metals are co-occurring aquatic contaminants with potential implications for fish safety and human health. This study assessed microplastic and heavy metal contamination in Clarias gariepinus from Eleyele reservoir. Microplastics were extracted from gill, liver, and muscle tissues using hydrogen peroxide digestion and characterized by Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, while heavy metals were quantified using atomic absorption spectrometry. A total of 490 microplastic particles were recovered, with mean abundances of 6.25 ± 1.09, 3.16 ± 0.60, and 2.23 ± 0.47 items per individual in gill, liver, and muscle, respectively. Fibers, fragments, foams, and films occurred in all tissues, with gills showing the highest abundance. Particles measuring 100-500 μm and transparent microplastics predominated, while microplastic abundance correlated positively with fish length and weight. Cadmium remained below detectable limits in all tissues. Lead concentrations ranged from 0.02 ± 0.04 mg/kg in liver to 0.60 ± 0.13 mg/kg in muscle, exceeding the permissible limit in muscle. Chromium increased from gill (0.39 ± 0.04 mg/kg) to liver (1.17 ± 0.05 mg/kg) and muscle (2.64 ± 0.70 mg/kg), while nickel concentrations were elevated in all tissues (6.83-10.34 mg/kg). Zinc was the most abundant metal but remained within guideline limits. Hazard quotient values indicated no risk from muscle consumption; however, nickel in the gill and chromium and nickel in the liver exceeded safe thresholds. Carcinogenic risk values for lead and chromium exceeded acceptable limits, indicating potential long-term public health concerns from regular fish consumption.