title: Linking biochemical perturbations in tissues of the African catfish to the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Ovia River, Niger Delta region.
abstract: Petroleum hydrocarbons including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a pollution issue in the Niger Delta region due to oil industry activities. PAHs were measured in the water column of the Ovia River with concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1055.6 ng L(-1). Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy detected alterations in tissues of the African catfish (Heterobranchus bidorsalis) from the region showed varying degrees of statistically significant (P<0.0001, P<0.001, P<0.05) changes to absorption band areas and shifts in centroid positions of peaks. Alteration patterns were similar to those induced by benzo[a]pyrene in MCF-7 cells. These findings have potential health implications for resident local communities as H. bidorsalis constitutes a key nutritional source. The study provides supporting evidence for the sensitivity of infrared spectroscopy in environmental studies and supports their potential application in biomonitoring.
authors.affiliation: Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
authors.forename: Blessing E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Obinaju
authors.affiliation: Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.affiliation: Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
authors.forename: Crispin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Halsall
authors.affiliation: Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK. Electronic address: f.martin@lancaster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Francis L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002397:Catfishes / Q000502:physiology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009548:Niger; D010578:Petroleum / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
keywords: African catfish; Biospectroscopy; Environmental pollution in Nigeria; Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy; Heterobrachus bidorsalis; Niger Delta pollution; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon