LEAD CONTENT IN RIVER WATER AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES

ABSTRACT

Lead is one of the heavy metals which is known to have no function in living organisms, however, it is widely applied in industrial processes and manufacturing. For these reasons it is ubiquitous despite its adverse environmental and health effects. This study was carried out to assess the assess and compare the levels of lead in water and fish samples, and the histopathological effects of heavy metalsin fish samples collected from Ogba and Ikpoba rivers in Benin City, Nigeria. Water and fish samples were collected from both rivers from November 2021 to January 2022 and subjected to standard analytical procedures for heavy metal and histopathological analysis. The results obtained from the study showed that lead concentrations in the water and fish samples were above the WHO and FDA permissible limits for lead in water and food, respectively. As such the concentrations were a source of health risk to people exposed to the water or who consume fish from the rivers. Histopathological alterations revealed in fish organs during this study were as follows: gills - necrosis and fusion of lamellae; liver - necrosis and steatosis of hepatocytes; and reproductive organs - necrosis of tissues. These observations proved the damages which heavy metals cause in aquatic organisms. It was recommended that anthropogenic activities which aid the release of lead into the aquatic environment be controlled and routine monitoring of the rivers should be carried out.