EFFECT OF CONSUMING UNCOOKED CADMIUM-CONTAMINATED TILAPIA (Oreochromis sp.) ON KIDNEY AND LIVER OF WHITE RATS

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a xenobiotic that can cause numerous health effects to living organisms and is an emerging environmental pollutant due to its anthropogenic activity. The main objectives of this study were to determine the toxicity effect ofCd from fish (Oreochromis sp.) in white rats (Sprague dawley) and also the level of Cd pollution in raw fish and white rats' organs sample by Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS). Three groups ofdesigned samples based on 96 h median lethal concentration ofCd exposure were GA-lowest (1.1721 mgl-1), GB-medium (2.3442 mgi-1) and GC-highest (4.6883 mgl-1) while the control groups remained unexposed to Cd. White rats were euthanised at day one, four and seven and liver and kidneys collected for both histological studies and ICPMS readings. A very low concentration of Cd was detected in these organs (p >0.05). However, the effects of low Cd toxicity in liver and kidney were obvious and shown in histological changes as early as day 1. Cd at low levels can bring adverse effect to the health of the white rats.