Pesticide Contamination in Muscle Tissues of Croaker Fishes from Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

Two croaker fish species, Pseudotolithus senegalensis and Pseudotolithus typuswere sampled seasonally from Lagos Lagoon between December 2008 and September 2009 and analysed for pesticide residues. The muscle tissues of the fishes were subjected to cold extraction and subsequently clean-up. The detection and determination of the organochlorine residues were performed using gas chromatography.A higher concentration of the pesticide residues was observed during the dry season. There was no particular pattern in the accumulated organochlorine pesticides in the muscle tissues of the fishes. The residue distribution was more in the muscle tissues of Pseudotolithus senegalensis than in Pseudotolithus typus.The levels of OCP were all within permissible limits.The dietary surveys showed a mean fish consumption value of 40 g/day. Except for endrin and heptachlor, the estimated daily intakes of the pesticides were within the acceptable daily intakes.