book chapter · IntechOpen eBooks
Ikpoba River in Benin City supports local livelihoods and ecosystems but also receives domestic and industrial waste discharges. Resident fin-fish from the river serve as food for local populations and feed for livestock, creating risks of toxic metal exposure. A long-term study evaluated fish samples collected between 2012 and 2021, examining concentrations of cadmium, iron, zinc, copper, nickel, chromium, lead, and manganese across whole fish, flesh, gills, liver, bones, and eggs. The evaluation documented shifts in fish species abundance, richness, and morphometrics, reflecting physiological responses to heavy metal integration. Risk assessment metrics, including the Metal Pollution Index, Target Hazard Quotient, and Total Target Hazard Quotient, confirmed significant public health concerns linked to consumption. These findings serve as the foundation for proposed river management strategies.
Fin-fish from urban rivers provide essential nutrition for local communities and feed for livestock, making aquatic pollution an immediate human health concern. By tracking heavy metal contamination over a decade, this research demonstrates the severity of food chain contamination, offering essential evidence for environmental protection agencies and municipal authorities seeking to regulate urban waste and protect consumer safety.
The abstract does not indicate an immediate commercial application pathway, as the work is focused on environmental monitoring and risk assessment. The baseline data and risk indices could, however, be used by municipal authorities, environmental regulators, and public health agencies to design and deploy targeted remediation or watershed management programmes. The research sits at an applied baseline stage rather than near commercial deployment.
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Ikpoba River is a major river in Benin City, providing ecosystem support and livelihood for residents, while also serving as a sink for both domestic and industrial wastes and effluents. Resident fin-fishes are an invaluable source of food for inhabitants and feed materials for livestock. Direct or indirect intake of resident species by inhabitants, therefore, constitutes a worrisome health hazard. The presence and concentrations of Cadmium (Cd), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), and Manganese (Mn) in whole fish, flesh, gills, liver, bones, and eggs collected between 2012 and 2021 provide essential data and information. In addition, changes in the abundance and richness of fish species, associated basic morphometrics, and derived indices showed possible responses to the presence and integration of metals in the body physiology. Metal Pollution Index (MPI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and Total THQ (TTHQ) indexed the risks and public health concerns. Management strategies are proposed for adoption.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.1016407
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