HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN SOME ORGANS OF AFRICAN CATFISH (Clarias gariepinus) FROM EKO-ENDE DAM, IKIRUN, NIGERIA.

The contents of the heavy metals Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb, Cd and As were examined in the liver, heart,

gills, kidney and muscles of the fish Clarias gariepinus from Eko-Ende dam in Ikirun, the capital of

Ifelodun Local Government of Osun State, Nigeria. C. gariepinus is the fish of choice and the most

demanded in the southwest of Nigeria. The highest metal concentrations were in the liver and the gills

while the lowest was in the muscles. The general deceasing order of metal accumulation in the organs 

was Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Cd. Lead and arsenic were not detected in any organ. The values were of

lower concentrations than found in many other dams and rivers in Nigeria and some other countries.

The values were also lower than the FAO/WHO recommended maximum limits in fish samples,

making the fish to be safe and not of any hazards for the consumers.