Environ Exp Biol (2017) 15: 151–158

Health status of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus in response to aquatic pollution in Epe, Lagos and Ologe Lagoons, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

The aquatic ecosystem is frequently the final recipient of pollutants, which may be hazardous to aquatic organism. In this study, in 2012 the following factors were examined: level of Pb, Ni, Cd and Zn in water, sediments, and liver, tissue and gills of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus from Epe, Lagos and Ologe Lagoon. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, gluthathione peroxidase activity, gluthathione and thiobarbituric acid-reacting substance concentrations in fish samples were also determined, and liver histopathology was conducted. A condition factor for fish was also determined. The results revealed higher levels of Zn in water samples from Lagos lagoon compared to Epe lagoon. Ni and Cd in tissue of samples from Lagos and Ologe Lagoon respectively and Pb in samples from both lagoons were higher than the FAO 1983 limit. Glutathione concentration was higher at Lagos lagoon (0.84 ± 0.55 µmol mL^–1) compared to Ologe (0.72 ± 0.62 µmol mL^–1). Vacuolar degeneration and bile stains were observed in liver of fish samples from Lagos and Ologe lagoon, respectively. The study showed that C. nigrodigitatus is adversely affected by pollutants in the lagoons.