Assessment of Heavy Metals and Total Hydrocarbon Content in Tilapia (Oreochromis Aureus) from Ibaka River, Nigeria

Abstract

Tilapia species may face severe extinction in Ibaka River in future probably due to metal and oil pollutions. These type of pollutions hold a major potential hazard to surface water and fish and consequently to all living things. According to Davies et al (1983), heavy metals pollution can alter quality of water bodies by increasing the odour, colour, pH, BOD and P04 3and make them unfit for drinking. Heavy metals on the other hand can disrupt natural quality of fish and fish tissue (Abuet al 2012), increase fish disease and mortality (Saxena et al 2018), influence physiological rates of fish reproduction (Korisiakpere and Ubogu, 2001).