Ecotoxicological and Bacteriological Assessment of Water and Fish from Hadejia River, Nigeria: Implications for Public Health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47514/kjg.2026.08.01.072Keywords:
Heavy metal contamination, non-carcinogenic health risk, bacteriological water quality, artisanal fisheries, principal component analysis, Hadejia RiverAbstract
Hadejia River, Jigawa State, Nigeria is under anthropogenic influence for fisheries and irrigation. The water quality parameters, bacterial count and 5 metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr) were sampled in 3 fish species (Clarias gariepinus, Oreochromis niloticus, Synodontis sp.) in 5 sites for 3 seasons (n=35). Analysis of metals, health risks, water quality, and bacteria were conducted using the atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methods, American Public Health Association (APHA) standards, and pour-plate method, respectively. The heatmap, principal component analysis (PCA) and target hazard quotient (THQ) charts were used for visualizations. Lead had the highest THQ (1.14) and exceeded levels indicating non-carcinogenic risk, and the cumulative hazard index was 6.40 for arsenic. The downstream sites were above WHO limits for DO, BOD₅, total coliforms and E. coli. Bacteria species were all significantly different from one another (p=0.002). Heatmap and PCA revealed two clusters: one for chemical variances and another for microbiological variances, with arsenic and bacterial load being the primary drivers of variance. The study findings indicate that the Hadejia River fish is a serious health hazard and necessary regulatory measures and remediation must be implemented.
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The data that support the findings of this study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mohammed Garba Daya, Afeez Oladeji Amoo, Adeniyi Olarewaju Adeleye, Catherine Iyabode Asaju, Nureni Babatunde Amoo, Mohammed Bello Yerima (Author)
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