ASSESMENT OF BIOACCUMULATION OF LEAD IN FISHES IN IBI RIVER, TARABA STATE, NIGERIA
The assessment of fish for the presence of lead is very important for the public health of individuals and the conservation of the aquatic ecosystem. Lead has deleterious effects on human beings with children being more vulnerable once they exceed their safety limits in the body. The study was conducted to determine the Lead levels in fishes in Ibi River in Taraba State Nigeria. A total of 36 fish samples were collected weekly for 4 weeks in Ibi River and transported to the Agronomy Laboratory in University of Ibadan for analysis using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed that there was no lead present at the detection limit of 0.08 of the Spectrophotometer from all the samples collected. The study concluded that fishes obtained from the river are free from Lead bioaccumulation. That this could be due to the fact that they are natural water bodies and no industrial company is close to the rivers. More extensive studies should be carried out to give a broader picture of the water bodies and the fish at different seasons of the year. Periodic assessment, collection of data and reporting of the results should be given to the relevant authorities and laws encouraging the preservation of the environment should be enacted.
Keywords; Bioaccumulation, Lead, Fish, Water bodies, River
