GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

ABSTRACT

Contamination of heavy metals in the aquatic environment can occur from various natural sources. The natural sources of heavy metals are mainly volcanic eruptions and the weathering of metal-bearing rocks, while other sources of heavy metals include agricultural and industrial activities, combustion of fossil fuel and gasoline waste incinerators, mining, etc. The bioaccumulation of nickel (Ni) and vanadium (V) in the tissues of the liver, gill, and muscles has been detected. The findings of Nickel (Ni) and Vanadium (V) in the liver, muscle, and gill of 16 samples of Channa obscura were carried out. The concentrations of nickel (Ni) in the three organs—liver, muscle, and gill—were 0.02–0.20 mg/kg wet wt, 0.06–0.24 mg/kg wet wt, and 0.04–0.20 mg/kg wet wt, respectively. Those of Vanadium (V) in the same organs were 0.18–0.45 mg/kg wet wt, 0.16–0.3 mg/kg wet wt, and 0.28–0.5 mg/kg wet wt, respectively. Nickel concentration varied directly with the body weight in the muscle of the fish to the concentration of 0.24 mg/kg wet wt. The levels of concentrations of nickel (Ni) in the liver and gill were 0.20 mg/kg wet wt, and they varied slightly with the body weight of the fish. The levels of concentrations of (V) in the three organs also varied slightly with an increase in fish body weight. Vanadium concentrations levels showed higher when compared to that of Nickel. The concentration gradient of Vanadium fluctuated slightly in the gill and liver by 0.05 mg/kg wet wt.

Keywords: Nickel, Vanadium, organs, snakehead fish, kwa River.