DETERMINATION OF TRACE-METALS IN FISH, ASSOCIATED WATERS AND SOIL SEDIMENTS FROM FISH PONDS

The concentration of sodium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper, cobalt and cadmium were determined in the fish (Tilapia guineensis), associated water and sediment from three selected fish ponds located at Odigbo, Ondo and Igbotako in Ondo State of Nigeria. Atomic adsorption spectro-photometer was used to determine calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper and cadmium. Sodium and potassium were determined with a flame photometer while magnesium was determined by complexometric titration with EDTA. The levels of the metals in water were very much lower than their corresponding concentrations in the sediment and the levels in the sediment were less than those in the fish. In particular, the fish appeared to concentrate many of the metals from the aquatic habitat into its body.