Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Wild Clarias gariepinus AND Tilapia zilli from The Argungu River, Northwestern Nigeria, and The Associated Human Health Risks from Their Consumption
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Abstract
Pesticides remain integral to modern agriculture for crop protection but their persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic nature poses growing ecological and public health concerns. This study evaluate pesticide residue concentrations and associated human health risks from consuming two commonly harvested wild fish species (Tilapia zilli and Clarias gariepinus) inhabiting Argungu River. A total of 216 specimens (108 per species) were sampled between February and July, 2024 using traditional fishing methods employed by local fishermen. Samples were processed using the QuEChERS extraction method followed by analysis of sixteen pesticides through Gas Chromatographic (GC). C. gariepinus exhibited the highest overall pesticide residue of 1.684 µg/kg, with dominant contributions of 0.052, 0.053 and 0.176 µg/kg recorded in DDT, DDE and Alderin respectively. In T. zilli, the concentrations of 0.007, 0.047, 0.152, 0.326 and 0.083 were found highest in heptachlor, DDD, alpha-HCH, beta-HCH and dieldrin, respectively. Moreover, the concentrations of many pesticides analyzed in this study were found above the WHO/FAO permissible limit. However, one-way ANOVA revealed no statistically significant variation (p > 0.05) between species. Human health risk assessment revealed that Target Hazard Quotient (THQ ≤ 1) and Carcinogenic Risk (CR ≤ 1 × 10-4) for adults and children were below the critical thresholds, suggesting minimal health risks at current exposure levels. Despite the low risk estimates, the detection of pesticides in T. zilli and C. gariepinus inhabiting Argungu River revealed the deposition of pesticides due the increasing pesticides application, which highlights the need for continuous monitoring. Strengthened regulation of pesticide use, river quality surveillance, and improved pest management strategies are essential to protect public health and promote the sustainability of Argungu River.
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Salisu, N., Abubakar, K. M., Umar, J., Abubakar, H., Abubakar, M., Abubakar, S., Aliyu, S., & Mafara, H. M. (2026). Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Wild Clarias gariepinus AND Tilapia zilli from The Argungu River, Northwestern Nigeria, and The Associated Human Health Risks from Their Consumption. The Bioscientist Journal, 14(2), 244-256. https://doi.org/10.54117/the_bioscientist.v14i2.230
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References
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Akoto, O., Azuure, A. A. and Adotey, K. D. (2016). Pesticide residues in water, sediment and fish from Tono Reservoir and their health risk implications. Springer plus. 5(1): 1849-1863.
Bawa, D. Y., Ribah, M. I., Jega, I. S., and Oyedepo, V. O. (2018). Physicochemical Assessment Characteristics of and Heavy Metals Concentration in Freshwater from Jega River, Kebbi State, Nigeria. International Scholarly and Scientific Research and Innovation, 12(1): 38-41.
Biego, G. H. M, Yao, K. D., Ezoua, P. and Kouadio, L. P. (2010) Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticides Residues in Fish Sold in Abidjan Markets and Fishing Sites. African Journal of food agriculture Nutrition and development, 10(3): 2305–2323
Buah Kwofie, A. and Humphries, M. S. (2021). Organochlorine pesticide accumulation in fish and catchment sediments of Lake St Lucia: Risks for
Africa’s largest estuary. Chemosphere, 274: 1297-1309.
Dahshan, H., Megahed, A. M., Abd-Elall, A. M. M., Abd-El-Kader, M. A. G., Nabawy, E. and Elbana, M. H. (2016). Monitoring of pesticides water pollution-The Egyptian River Nile. Journal of Environmental Health Science Engineering, 14(1): 15-33.
Danladi, K. B. R. and Akoto, O. (2021). Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Fish and Sediments from Vea Irrigation Reservoir. Journal of Environmental Protection, 12(04): 265-277.
El-Alfy, M. A., Hasballah, A. F., Abd-El-Hamid, H. T. and El-Zeiny, A. M. (2019). Toxicity assessment of heavy metals and organochlorine pesticides in freshwater and marine environments, Rosetta area, Egypt using multiple approaches. Sustainable Environmental Resource, 29(1): 19-37.
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Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2011). Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics. 2009. Statistics and Information Service of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department/Service. 2009. Rome/ Roma. Pp: 78
Ibrahim, H. (2023). Assessment of Organochlorines Pesticides Residues in Water, Fish and Sediment Samples from Wurbo Lake, Bali, Taraba State, Nigeria. European Journal of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, 1(5), 1086-1096. https://doi.org/10.59324/ejtas.2023.1(5).95
Ibrahim, H., Sabri, S. A. and Mohammed, A. B. (2025). Modify quecher’s extraction method for the determination of organophosphate pesticide residues in fish samples collected from Wurbo and Yelwa lakes of Bali, Taraba State, Nigeria. Journal of Advanced Science & Optimization Research ((JASOR). (pp 52-65). DOI: https://doi.org/10.70382/sjasor.v7i9.017
Intisar, A., Ramzan, A., Sawaira, T., Kareem, A. T., Hussain, N. and Din, M. I. (2022). Occurrence, toxic effects, and mitigation of pesticides as emerging environmental pollutants using robust nanomaterials–A review. Chemosphere. 2022;293:133538.
Korteia, N. K., Heymanna, M. E., Essumana, E. K., Kpodoa, F. M., Akonorb, P. T., Lokpof, S. Y., Boadic, N. O., Matilda Ayim-Akonore, M., and Tettey, C. (2020). Health risk assessment and levels of toxic metals in fishes (Oreochromis noliticus and Clarias anguillaris) from Ankobrah and Pra basins: Impact of illegal mining activities on food safety. Toxicological Reports, 7: 360-369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.02.011
Lawrence, I. E., Ozekeke, S. O., Isioma, T., Alex, A. E. and Emmanuel, O. (2015). Pesticide contaminants in Clarias gariepinus and Tilapia zilli from three rivers in Edo State, Nigeria; implications for human exposure. International Journal of Food Contamination, 2: 1-10. DOI 10.1186/s40550-015-0009-z
Mwevura, H., Othman, C. O. and George, L. M. (2002). Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Edible Biota from the Coastal Area of Dar es Salaam City. Pesticide Residues In Coastal Dar Western Indian Ocean. Journal of Marine Science, 1(1):91–96
Obaroh, I.O., Abubakar, U., Haruna, M.A. and Elinge, M.C. (2015). Evaluation of some Heavy Metals Concentration in River Argungu. Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, 10 (6): 581-586.
Olisah, C., Okoh, O. O. and Okoh, A. I. (2020). Occurrence of organochlorine pesticide residues in biological and environmental matrices in Africa: A two-decade review. Heliyon, 6(3): 363-375.
Osesua, B. A., Omogbehin, S. A. and Anyekema, M. (2019). Determination of pesticide residues in fish and water from Dukku River, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria. International Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, 5(10): 1-16.
Sabzevari, S. and Hofman, J. (2022). A worldwide review of currently used pesticides’ monitoring in agricultural soils. Science of the Total Environment, 812: 1523-1534.
Salisu, N., Ejeikwu, E. O. and Ejaro, S. P. (2024). Analysis of Rainfall and Temperature Variability in Kebbi State, Northern Nigeria. Dutse Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences (DUJOPAS), 10(2c): 376-390.
Salisu, N., Ejeikwu, E. O., Ejaro, S. P. and Jaafar, U. (2025). Landsat-Based Spatiotemporal Analysis of Land Use-Land Cover (LULC) Changes in Semiarid Region of Northwestern Nigeria: Implications for Environmental Sustainability. Biological and Environmental Sciences Journal for the Tropics, 22(2): 197-208. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bestj.v22i2.20.
Slaby, S., Le, Cor, F., Dufour, V., Auger, L., Pasquini, L. and Cardoso, O. (2022). Distribution of pesticides and some of their transformation products in a small lentic waterbody: Fish, water, and sediment contamination in an agricultural watershed. Environmental Pollution, 292:118-134.
Sultan M, Hamid N, Junaid M, Duan JJ, Pei DS (2023). Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in freshwater resources of Pakistan: A review on occurrence, spatial distribution and associated human health and ecological risk assessment. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 249:114-130.
Umar, S. G., Liman, M. G., Muhammad, C., Abubakar, M. Y., Salisu, N., Abdullahi, S., Sani, M. and Nasiru, S. (2024). Assessment of Heavy Metals Concentrations in Five Fish Species Collected from Argungu River, Lungu and Laka Lakes in Argungu, Kebbi State. Savanna Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 6(1): 10-20.
USEPA. (1991). Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund: Volume 1-Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part B). EPA/54O/R-92/003. Washington, DC: United States Environmental Protection Agency.
USEPA. (2017): Guidance for the Registration of Pesticide Product Containing Chlorobenzilate as the Active Ingredient, Washington DC. P: 34.
Vrhovnik, P., Arrebola, J. P., Serafimovski, T., Dolenec, T., Šmuc, N.R., Dolenec, M., Mutch, E. (2013). Potentially toxic contamination of sediments, water and two animal species in Lake Kalimanci, FYR Macedonia: relevance to human health. Environmental Pollutants, 180: 92–100.
Williams, B. A. (2013) Levels and distribution of chlorinated pesticide residues in water and sediments of Tarkwa Bay, Lagos Lagoon. Journal of Research in Environmental Science and Toxicology, 2(1): 1–8.
World Health Organization (WHO). (1997). Guidelines for predicting dietary intake of pesticide residues (revised) global environmental programme (GEMS/ Food) in collaboration with Codex Committee on pesticide residues. Programme of Food Safety and Food Aid. 1–44.