Antibiotics, algal evaluations and subacute effects of abattoir wastewater on liver function enzymes, genetic and haematologic biomarkers in the freshwater fish, Clarias gariepinus.

Abattoirs are positioned close to freshwaters in most developing countries where untreated wastewaters are discharged into with potential risk to aquatic life such as fish and ultimately human health. We assessed physicochemical parameters, antibiotics (oxytetracycline and diclofenac) and algal load of effluent collected from a major abattoir in Nigeria. Furthermore, liver function enzymes, genotoxic and haemotoxic effects of subacute concentration (10% of 96 hLC value) of the wastewater were evaluated over a period of 28 d in Clarias gariepinus (The African Sharptooth Catfish).

Successional pattern of phytoplankton (>55 microm) in Lekki lagoon, Nigeria.

Lagoons are dominant features along large stretches of the West Africa coast. These freshwater environments are very valuable areas where phytoplankton constitute the basis of aquatic food webs. In order to know the effects of environmental variables on phytoplankton, a study of the successional pattern of phytoplankton in Lekki lagoon was carried out monthly for two years (June 2003-May 2005).