Research Article
Trace Metals and Nutritional Composition of Alestes dentex from the Ibeshe River, Ikorodu, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 2, June 2026
Pages:
19-30
Received:
23 April 2026
Accepted:
7 May 2026
Published:
21 May 2026
Abstract: This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the safety and nutritional quality of the commercially important fish species, Alestes dentex, from the Ibeshe River, a water body receiving urban and industrial effluents in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Nigeria. Over an eight-week monitoring period, we analyzed the river's water quality, the bioaccumulation of thirteen trace metals in fish tissues, and the proximate composition of the fish. The proximate analysis revealed significant temporal variation in crude protein (F(7,16)=4.82, p<0.01), with values ranging from 14.72% to 19.08%. Mineral analysis identified magnesium as the most variable macromineral (660.52-2926.74 mg/100g), while zinc exhibited the highest overall variability (CV=85.0%). A coordinated ionic perturbation at Week 5 (Mg↓, Na↑, K↓) suggested acute osmoregulatory disturbance. Heavy metal concentrations remained within FAO/WHO safety limits throughout the study (Cd: 0.001-0.020 mg/100g; Pb: 0.002-0.010 mg/100g), although arsenic was detected for the first time at Week 8 (0.03 mg/100g). Correlation analysis revealed significant positive associations between calcium and iron (r=0.82, p<0.01) and negative correlations between sodium and potassium (r=-0.79, p<0.05). The findings establish critical baseline data for nutritional assessment and food safety monitoring, confirming that A. dentex from Ibeshe River remains safe for human consumption while highlighting the need for continued temporal surveillance.
Abstract: This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the safety and nutritional quality of the commercially important fish species, Alestes dentex, from the Ibeshe River, a water body receiving urban and industrial effluents in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Nigeria. Over an eight-week monitoring period, we analyzed the river's water quality, the bi...
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Research Article
Phycoremediation of Dravyawati River (Jaipur): Simultaneous Wastewater Treatment and Biomass Generation Using Indigenous Algal Species
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 2, June 2026
Pages:
31-44
Received:
29 July 2026
Accepted:
12 August 2026
Published:
11 September 2026
Abstract: Rapid urbanization and unregulated industrial expansion in developing nations have intensified the degradation of freshwater ecosystems, with the Dravyawati River in Jaipur, Rajasthan, receiving untreated domestic sewage, industrial effluents, and agricultural runoff that elevate biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total dissolved solids (TDS); since conventional physicochemical treatment technologies, though effective, entail high capital costs, energy demands, and secondary sludge generation, there is a pressing need for sustainable and resource-efficient alternatives, which this study addresses through the first systematic evaluation of indigenous microalgal consortia comprising Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus obliquus, and Spirogyra sp. for simultaneous phycoremediation and biomass valorisation in the semi-arid urban river context of Jaipur. Water samples collected from three longitudinal transects of the Dravyawati River were subjected to phycoremediation in controlled 2-L photobioreactors at 25–32°C, pH 7–8.5, and 2000–5000 lux over a hydraulic retention time of 12 days, with pollutant removal efficiencies for TN, TP, BOD, COD, and TDS quantified at 3-day intervals using standard APHA methods, while biomass productivity was determined gravimetrically and biochemical composition (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, chlorophyll) was characterised. The consortium achieved removal efficiencies of 83.6 ± 4.7% for TN, 78.9 ± 5.3% for TP, 76.4 ± 4.1% for BOD5, 78.2 ± 3.8% for COD, and 44.3 ± 3.4% for TDS, significantly outperforming all monoculture treatments, with Chlorella vulgaris demonstrating the highest individual removal performance among the single-species cultures; biomass yield reached 1.48 ± 0.12 g L-1, corresponding to a biomass productivity of 0.123 ± 0.010 g L-1 d-1 in the consortium, with lipid content of 24.8–32.6%, protein content of 36.4–42.3%, and carbohydrate content of 18–26% across treatments, confirming applicability for bioenergy, biofertilizer, and nutraceutical value chains. These findings indicate that phycoremediation using locally adapted microalgae represents a scalable, cost-effective, and circular-economy-aligned strategy for urban river restoration in semi-arid India, with direct relevance to SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Abstract: Rapid urbanization and unregulated industrial expansion in developing nations have intensified the degradation of freshwater ecosystems, with the Dravyawati River in Jaipur, Rajasthan, receiving untreated domestic sewage, industrial effluents, and agricultural runoff that elevate biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total ...
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,
Babajide Elijah Faleti
