Paper Details

Human-induced pollution in aquatic environments, particularly from metals, poses a significant threat to fish and other aquatic organisms, leading to chronic stress and long term ecological damage. This study assessed the bioaccumulation levels of heavy metals (chromium, nickel, copper, lead, cadmium, and zinc) in the sediments, water, and liver of catfish (Clarias anguillaris) and tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus) from the Hadejia River. Using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) and standard analytical methods, heavy metal concentrations data were measured and analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine significant differences. The results revealed that heavy metals, particularly chromium, copper, and nickel, are concentrated at higher levels in the liver of C. anguillaris compared to O. niloticus. In sediments, the order of heavy metal accumulation was Zn > Cr > Cu > Ni, while in water, it was Cr > Cu > Ni > Cd. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) showed that C. anguillaris absorbed higher levels of heavy metals from both sediments and water compared to O. niloticus. The findings highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring of the Hadejia River to address potential health risks, as the buildup of heavy metals in aquatic organism (fish) can pose significant long term health threats. Keywords: Bioaccumulation; environmental monitoring; heavy metals; sediment