Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Two Species of Goby (Porogobius Schelegelii and Bathygobius Soporator) From Buguma Creek, Niger Delta
This study investigated the heavy metal concentrations in different organs such as gills, muscles, liver and gatro-intestinal tract (GIT) of two species of Goby: Porogobius schelegelii and Bathygobius soporator from Buguma Creek, Rivers State, Nigeria. The fish samples were collected from the creek and were preserved in ice chest box and transported to the laboratory for analysis. Samples were digested by using standard laboratory methods. The concentrations of metals were analyzed using a Varian AA240 Fast Sequential Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The Results obtained indicated that heavy metals such as Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), and Nickel (Ni) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the liver of the two species than in the muscle, gills and the GIT. Comparatively, the concentrations of these metals were higher in the specie B.soporator than P. schelegelii in all the organs of the fishes under consideration. The heavy metal concentrations recorded in this study were above the limits recommended by Food and Agricultural Organization/ World Health Organization. The high concentration of heavy metals above permissible level suggests the need for caution during the consumption of these species from Buguma Creek due to health implications associated with heavy metals.