Pesticide contaminants in Clarias gariepinus and Tilapia zilli from three rivers in Edo State, Nigeria; implications for human exposure

The concentrations of 16 pesticides residues (alpha BHC, gamma BHC (lindane), beta BHC, Heptachlor, Aldrin, Heptachlor Epoxide, Endosulfan I, Dieldrin, Endrin, Endosulfan II, 4, 4 DDT, Endosulfan Aldehyde, Endosulfan sulfate, Atrazine, Phosphomethylglycine and Carbofuran) in two fish species (Tilapia zilli and Clarias gariepinus) from selected rivers (Illushi, Owan and Ogbesse) in Edo State, Nigeria was investigated and the associated human health risks from the consumption of contaminated fishes was also determined. Fish species were collected for a period of 18 months, and pesticides analyses was carried out using Gas Chromatography (GC) equipped with Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD). The distribution of pesticide residues was more in the tissues of Clarias gariepinus (5.53-9.98 μg/g wet weight) than Tilapia zilli (3.494.98 μg/g wet weight), while the most dominant pesticide in all the stations and all fish species was the persistent organochlorine; ∑BHC. Furthermore, the estimated dose for alpha BHC, beta BHC, Endosulfan Aldehyde, DDT, Endosulfan I, Endosulfan II, gamma BHC, Heptachlor, Endosulfan sulfate, Atrazine, Phosphomethylglycine and Carbofuran, do not pose direct hazard to human health since values were lower than the reference dose and Hazard quotient (HQ) were lower than toxic threshold of 1. However, estimated dose for, Heptachlor epoxide, Dieldrin, Endrin and Aldrin exceeded the reference dose and were higher than toxic threshold indicating a potential toxicity in humans.