Y.B. Eremasi , G.N. Anaero-Nweke , I.K.E. Ekweozor

Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University of Science & Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Marine Science, 2019, Vol. 9, No. 3   doi: 10.5376/ijms.2019.09.0003
Received: 18 Jun., 2019    Accepted: 20 Aug., 2019    Published: 08 Oct., 2019

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Eremasi Y.B., Anaero-Nweke G.N., and Ekweozor I.K.E., 2019, Total hydrocarbon concentration in the tissues of Clarias gariepinus of Taylor Creek, Niger Delta, International Journal of Marine Science, 9(3): 30-35 (doi: 10.5376/ijms.2019.09.0003)

Total Hydrocarbon Concentration in the tissues (gills, muscle and liver) of Clarias gariepinus was determined along the stretch of Taylor creek in Bayelsa State Niger Delta. Seven (7) sample points were selected along the stretch of the Creek and selected spilled sites. Samples were collected in monthly basis from November 2015 to October 2016 and analysed following standard procedures using Spectronic 21D Spectrophotometer. THC were in the order; liver > gills > muscle. Their concentrations ranged from 14.53 mg/kg to 21.53 mg / kg in the liver, 12.20 mg/kg - 19.19 mg/kg in the gills and 8.85 mg/kg – 10.60 mg/kg in the muscle tissues of Clarias gariepinus. Statistically the values were significant (P<0.05). The results showed that Total Hydrocarbon Concentrations in the studied fauna exceeded the WHO recommended limits of 0.001µg/g for seafood. Hence, consumption of Clarias gariepinus from the Creek should be reduced to prevent adverse health effects on consumers and also anthropogenic activities along the creek and shorelines should be regulated and monitored to prevent further contamination of other aquatic species.

Hydrocarbons; Clarias gariepinus (Liver, Gills Muscle tissue); Taylor Creek