ASSESSMENT OF COPPER, IRON, LEAD AND MERCURY AND THEIR EFFECT ON Clarias gariepinus IN THOMASS.....

Between March and December 2019, this study was conducted to investigate heavy metal concentrations in water, fish tissue, and their impact on water quality in Thomas Dam. Samples were collected from the selected stations and analysed. Heavy metals in water showed that iron concentrations range from 0.03 to 0.45 mg/l, lead concentrations from 0.01 to 0.18 mg/l, and mercury concentrations from 0.07 to 0.20 mg/l, all of which exceed the WHO (2011) recommended limits of 0.03 mg/l, 0.01 mg/l, and 0.002 mg/l, respectively. Copper concentrations, on the other hand, range from 0.02 to 0.33 mg/l, which are below the WHO (2011) recommended limits of 2.0 mg/l The concentration of heavy metals in the gills of fish ranges between 0.05 and 0.10 mg/kg, according to the data. Lead concentrations range from 0.008 to 0.09 mg/kg, while Mercury concentrations range from 0.001 to 0.09 mg/kg, both of which are higher than the WHO (1989) recommended levels of 0.03 mg/kg, 0.01 mg/kg, and 0.002 mg/kg, respectively. Copper concentrations, on the other hand, range from 0.01 to 0.11 mg/kg, which are lower than the WHO's acceptable limits of 1.3 mg/kg (1989). Heavy metals were found in the following sequence in both the water sample and the fish gill sample across the sampling stations: Fe > Hg > Pb >Cu. The concentration of heavy metal in water and fish gills was impacted by the source of water, geographical patterns of the site, irrigation, animal grazing, and trash burning, according to the study. As a result, proper education is required to inform households and farmers living around the Lake of the dangers associated with trash loading into the lake.

Please see the link :- https://www.ikprress.org/index.php/JOGAE/article/view/7345