Comparative Study of Toxins and Heavy Metals Levels Detected in The Gills Tissue and Sediments of Gills from Marine and Freshwater Fishes

Abstract

The marine and freshwater ecology has been greatly impacted by the increased water pollution seen in aquatic life. Water pollutants greatly affect the fish's anatomy and physiology. Heavy metals are one such water pollutant that shows detrimental effects on biotic life. This study aims to quantify the toxins in the gill deposition and tissue samples from two fish samples each from freshwater and marine water. Various toxins were analyzed, including phosphate, sulphate, and heavy metals such as Lead, Cobalt, Manganese, Iron, Copper, and Nickel. The study shows the presence of heavy metal in the gills which could lead to lesions and discolouration compared to healthy fish. The differences in species and water bodies indicate the varying concentrations of potential toxins and heavy metals in gills and the accumulation of these probable toxins in freshwater and marine fishes. It helps lay the groundwork for detecting possible pollutants in two water bodies and the high rise of toxicity in water. This study indicates that the quality of water in different water bodies and the fish consumed poses significant risks to human health, with potential risk of hazard looming, as fish could be considered environmental biomonitoring tools.