Acute effects of acetaminophen on the developmental, swimming performance and cardiovascular activities of the African catfish embryos/larvae (Clarias gariepinus).

Acetaminophen is a widely used analgesic that has been detected in many water bodies with few reports concerning its potential toxicity to fish. This study sought to assess the developmental, swimming performance and cardiovascular activities of embryo/larvae catfish (Clarias gariepinus) exposed to acetaminophen. The Organization for Economic Development (OECD) Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity Test (OECD 236) was employed. Fertilized embryo were exposed to different concentrations of acetaminophen (0, 0.5, 1, 10 µg/L) for 96 h. Hatching rates of the embryo were observed to decrease with increasing concentrations of acetaminophen. Fish embryo exposed to acetaminophen displayed varying levels of teratogenic effects at different levels of development in a dose-dependent manner. The results also showed a significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent increase in swimming speed and movement patterns in fish larvae exposed to acetaminophen, with distance travelled in larvae exposed to the highest concentration of acetaminophen (10 µg/L) about eight (8) times the distance travelled by the control larvae, indicating that acetaminophen-induced erratic swimming behaviour in the catfish species. Cardiotoxicity was evident, with a significant reduction in heartbeat rate with increasing concentrations of acetaminophen. The results showed that exposure to acetaminophen resulted in teratogenic, neurotoxic and cardiotoxic effects in embryo/larvae of Clarias gariepinus. The findings suggest that acetaminophen which has recently been detected in many water bodies could potentially impact on survival of aquatic life, especially catfish.

Accumulation patterns and risk assessment of metals and metalloid in muscle and offal of free-range chickens, cattle and goat in Benin City, Nigeria.

The use of free range animals for monitoring environmental health offers opportunities to detect exposure and assess the toxicological effects of pollutants in terrestrial ecosystems. Potential human health risk of dietary intake of metals and metalloid via consumption of offal and muscle of free range chicken, cattle and goats by the urban population in Benin City was evaluated. Muscle, gizzard, liver and kidney samples were analyzed for Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb concentrations using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) while Hg was determined using Hg analyzer. Mean concentrations of metals (mg/kg ww) varied significantly depending upon the tissues and animal species. Human health risk estimations for children and adults showed estimated daily intake (EDI) values of tissues below oral reference dose (RfD) threshold for non essential metals Cd, As, Pb and Hg thus strongly indicating no possible health risk via consumption of animal based food. Calculated Hazard quotient (THQ) was less than 1 (< 1) for all the metals analyzed for both adult and children. However, Cd and As had the highest value of THQ suggestive of possible health risk associated with continuous consumption of Cd and As contaminated animal based foods. Hazard Index (HI) for additive effect of metals was higher in chicken liver and gizzard for children and chicken liver for adults. Thus, HI indicated that chicken liver and gizzard may contribute significantly to adult and children dietary exposure to heavy metals. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed a clear species difference in metal accumulation between chickens and the ruminants. This study provides baseline data for future studies and also valuable evidence of anthropogenic impacts necessary to initiate national and international policies for control of heavy metal and metalloid content in food items.

Multiple biomarker responses in female Clarias gariepinus exposed to acetaminophen.

Several authors have documented the presences of acetaminophen (APAP) in both surface and groundwater and have received attention from government agencies and basic authorities across the globe. The impacts of such pharmaceutical products on non-target organism like fish are underestimated as a result of selected investigation using few biomarkers. We evaluated the sub-chronic impacts of APAP in female catfish (Clarias gariepinus) using multiple biomarkers. The exposure of female catfish to APAP induced oxidative stress. Markers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were significantly higher in all exposed groups. Exposure of Clarias gariepinus to APAPA caused histological alterations in the gills (fusion and shortening of some filaments, hyperplasia of the epithelial gill cells, aneurism, congestion, and epithelial rupture of the gills), liver (apoptotic hyperplasia, sinusoidal congestion, and necrosis of the hepatocytes), and gonad (degenerated follicles and ovarian apoptosis). Furthermore, multivariate results indicated that there was a distinct response from the acetaminophen-exposed female catfish, with over 95% of the biomarkers significantly contributing to the discrimination between the acetaminophen-exposed female catfish and the control groups. Our research provides evidence supporting the use of a multiple biomarker approach to evaluate the impacts of drugs on the health status of exposed fish.

Ingestion and Dermal Cancer Risk via Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soils in an Oil-Producing Community, Niger Delta, Nigeria.

There is an intrinsic link between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) accumulated in soils and increased health risk to humans after exposure to contaminated soil via ingestion, inhalation of particulates carrying PAHs, and direct contact with polluted soils. However, the assessment of PAH contamination in most developing countries fails to consider health risk assessment. Therefore, a comprehensive study was conducted to determine the concentration, source, toxicity, and human health risks of 16 PAHs in an urban area in Warri, Delta State, in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The results showed varying contamination levels for PAH in soil samples from all sampling points, with benzo[a]anthracene (BaP; at 338.81 µg/kg) being the most abundant at all 9 sampling stations. The highest total concentration of PAH was observed at station 5 (1230.98 µg/kg), which was closest to a flow station. Further comparison with PAH contamination standards showed that soils from stations 1 and 2 were weakly contaminated (<600 µg/kg), and soil samples from stations 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9 were moderately contaminated (<1000 µg/kg). Soil samples from stations 5 and 8 were observed to be heavily contaminated (>1000 µg/kg). The BaP estimates for soil samples obtained for stations 3 to 9 were higher than the BaP soil screening value (15 µg/kg), indicating a carcinogenic potential of soil samples. The results also showed that the incremental lifetime cancer risk estimates for PAH in the soil for adults and children were above the recommended threshold (10-4 ) for ingestion and dermal contact, implying that exposure to contaminated soil could lead to cancers in adults and children. Currently, there are no regional or national standards for PAHs in soil that would indicate an increased likelihood for human exposure and subsequent health issues. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:261-271. © 2020 SETAC.

Distribution of lindane in water, sediment, and fish from the warri river of the niger delta, Nigeria.

This paper is the first attempt to quantify the levels and the distribution pattern of lindane in the surface water, sediment and fish (Chrysichthys furcatus and Tilapia zilli). The samples were collected from three stations (Ovwian, Ekakpamre, and Ovu) of the Warri River in the western Niger Delta of Nigeria in 2006: during the dry (January-April) and wet seasons (May-August). The analysis included a total of 96 samples made up of 24 samples each for water, sediment, and fish. The pesticide levels were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography to elucidate its distribution in various environmental compartments. Residue levels in the matrices ranged from below the detection limit (BDL) to 1.37microg L(-1) in water, BDL to 12.66 microg g(-1) dry weight (dw) in sediment, BDL to 16.67 microg g(-1)dw in Chrysichthys furcatus, and BDL to 0.15 microg g(-1)dw in Tilapia zilli. The observed values were above the ecological benchmarks (0.01 microg L(-1)) recommended by the Nigerian Environmental Protection Agency and European Union. They were also relatively higher than in previous studies on the Nigerian environment, which calls for regular monitoring of the Niger Delta water bodies.