TRACE METAL CONCENTRATIONS AND HISTOPATHOLOGY OF THE LIVER OF A GOBIID FISH FROM ELECHI CREEK, PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA

Abstract

Trace metal concentrations can adversely affect the histopathology of visceral organs of living organisms. The gobiid fish, Periophthalmus papillo, was harvested from Elechi Creek, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and investigated for trace metals and their histopathological impacts in the liver. Samples of P. papillo were collected from five stations along the creek quarterly for one year.  The sample stations 1 to 5 were located by the waterfronts of Eagle Cement, Saipem, Master Energy and Agip and the control station was at Ogbakiri. Concentrations of Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni and V were determined in the liver of P. papillo using GBC Avanti AAS. One-way ANOVA was used for mean separation and Tukey HSD was used to determine stations that were statistically significant. Histological examination of the liver samples was done and images were acquired with a Leica DFC280 Digital Camera attached to a light microscope (Leica 6000B). The mean concentration of heavy metals in the liver were as follows: Station 1: Cr 17.55±2.48mg, Pb 14.19±1.18mg, Cd 0.63±0.13mg, Ni 4.56±0.54mg, V 0.22±0.05mg; Station 2:  Cr 14.37±2.86mg,  Pb  14.87±0.56mg, Cd 0.81±0.14mg, Ni  4.82±0.32mg, V  0.23±0.01mg; Station 3: Cr  18.86±1.64mg, Pb 13.32±2.7mg, Cd  0.65±0.06mg, Ni 5.18±0.64mg, V  0.25±0.07mg; Station 4: Cr  18.72±2.59mg,    Pb  12.57±2.47mg, Cd  0.64±0.05mg,     Ni 5.14±0.96mg, V  0.25±0.04mg; Station 5: Cr 17.30±2.00mg, Pb 8.16±1.06mg, Cd 0.72±0.09mg, Ni 2.18±0.16mg, V 0.29±0.02mg. Histopathological micrographs showed severe organ degeneration. Concentrations of these metals were high and some exceeded international standards and these are alarm signs that need urgent intervention from government agencies and the public health managers.