DETERMINATION OF CAFFEINE AND ACETAMINOPHEN IN COMMONLY CONSUMED FISH FROM IKPOBA RIVER

ABSTRACT

Pharmaceuticals are chemicals designed to help improve on the health system of people and animals. However, their continual presence in water, soil and the environment generally can threaten the ecosystem. The levels of acetaminophen, caffeine and heavy metals were evaluated in commonly consumed fish (Tillapia zillii and Mormyrus rume) from two stations in Ikpoba River, Benin City, Edo State. Extraction of active ingredients was done using soxhlet extraction procedure and the extracts were analysed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry detection. Nine heavy metals were analysed including potassium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, nickel, cobalt, lead and cadmium. The concentration of acetaminophen was 0.27 ± 0.00 µg/mg in station 1 and 0.25 ± 0.00 µg/mg in station 2. The caffeine level in both station 1 and 2 were below detectable limits. The concentration of potassium and iron were significantly different (p < 0.001) from acetaminophen. Copper, zinc, nickel and manganese levels in the fishes were above WHO permissible limits. The highest heavy metal concentration was observed in potassium from station 1 (966.00 ± 21.00 mg/kg) and station 2 (865.00 ± 11.00 mg/kg), followed by iron 45.50 ± 9.29 mg/kg and 44.36 ± 5.23 mg/kg in station 2 and station 1 respectively. The findings of this study indicate that consuming fish from Ikpoba River exposes the consumers to health risks due to the levels of heavy metals. Furthermore, although the possible chronic effects of acetaminophen raise the need for control of possible routes through which it may enter the river.