ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF URBAN RUNOFF ON FISH SPECIES IN IKPOBA RIVER: HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF METAL ACCUMULATION IN MUSCLE TISSUE OGBEIDE, O. OGBEIDE, G. AND OKODUWA, K.
ABSTRACT
This study examined the impact of urban runoff on the Ikpoba River in Benin City, Nigeria, focusing on heavy metal contamination in water, sediments, and fish species, and the histopathological changes in fish muscle tissues. The findings revealed significant levels of Pb, Cr, Ni, Co, and Cd in water, sediments, and fish tissues, with temporal fluctuations across sampling sites. Statistical analysis showed significant variations in heavy metal concentrations: Co (1.23 ± 0.34 mg/L) and Ni (0.97 ± 0.28 mg/L) in water, Pb (56.8 ± 10.2 mg/kg) in sediment, and Cr (4.32 ± 1.02 mg/kg), Ni (3.78 ± 0.85 mg/kg), and Pb (5.94 ± 1.48 mg/kg) in fish tissues (P < 0.05). The accumulation of these metals….