Ikelle, I. Ikelle and Nworu, S. Jerome
This study investigates the presence and distribution of petroleum hydrocarbon carcinogens in the organs of commercially available fish species collected from the Escravos River in Delta State, Nigeria. The Escravos River is known to be heavily impacted by crude oil pollution due to oil exploration and production activities in the region. The bioaccumulation of petroleum hydrocarbons, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in fish tissues poses potential risks to both aquatic organisms and human consumers. Samples of various commercially important fish species were collected from different locations along the Escravos River and analyzed for the presence of petroleum hydrocarbon carcinogens using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC FID 5890 SERIES II) techniques. All data were subjected to one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using SPSS version 16 to test for the significant level of the parameters across the groups. Preliminary findings indicate elevated levels of petroleum hydrocarbon carcinogens, particularly PAHs, in the organs of fish sampled from the polluted areas of the Escravos River. Liver and adipose tissues exhibited higher concentrations of PAHs compared to muscle tissue, suggesting organ-specific bioaccumulation patterns. The presence of these carcinogens in commercially available fish species highlights potential health risks to consumers, particularly those reliant on fish as a dietary staple. This study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive environmental monitoring and management strategies to mitigate the impact of crude oil pollution on aquatic ecosystems and human health in the Escravos River region. Further research is warranted to assess the long-term effects of petroleum contamination on fish populations and human communities’ dependent on aquatic resources in the study area.