Biomarkers of oxidative stress in Clarias gariepinus for assessing toxicological effects of heavy metal pollution of Abereke river in southwest Nigeria

Water pollution indices and oxidative stress biomarkers in African sharp-toothed catfish, Clarias gariepinus were used to evaluate the health status of Abereke River on the Ilaje coastal zone of Ondo’s Niger Delta region. Muscle and liver tissues from fishes harvested from the river and from a clean fish farm were comparatively subjected to heavy metal status and redox stress biomarker analyses. Water samples from the river and fish farm were also subjected to water quality tests. Our findings showed significant elevations in bacterial contaminants, heavy metal pollutants, and particulate matter deposits in Abereke River. In addition, heavy metal deposits were found in tissues of fish harvested from the river correlated with increases in markers of oxidative stress and depletions in antioxidant defense systems. Taken together, water from Abereke River is unsafe for human consumption, and consumption of aquatic organisms from the river may be harmful to health.