The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) says findings on the dead fishes on the Atlantic coastline indicated high levels of toxicity caused by toxic wastes discharge.

The agency noted that the discharge of toxic materials into the Atlantic may have come from land as the wastes from domestic and industrial sources often empty into the water body.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that NOSDRA had on April 22 said it was coordinating a multi-agency investigation, aimed at unravelling the cause of the reported massive death of fishes within the nation’s territorial waters.

Idris Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA in a statement made available to NAN on Thursday, said the high toxicity of the dead fishes and water samples was caused by pollution from heavy metals from industrial and domestic wastes.

He said that relevant government agencies which have mandates on the marine environment collaborated with NOSDRA on the study.

According to Mr Musa, results of the tests conducted confirmed its preliminary findings that the death of the fishes was not linked to oil leakages as the levels of hydrocarbon in the samples tested were within regulatory limits.

“The results of the laboratory tests were perused, and we make an explanation on the parameters of concerns that were analysed for the purpose of clarity and understanding.

“As earlier mentioned, the findings did not show hydrocarbons (oil) as the possible cause of the death of the fishes.

“In the course of the analysis, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAR), Benzene, Toluene Ethylene and Xylene (BTEX) were within regulatory standard limits in water, sediments and fish tissue analyses.

“However, there were some heavy metals such as Cadmium, Chromium Copper, Zinc and Iron that exceeded regulatory standard limits in the coastlines of the three states, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers.

“In the water samples taken at the coastline in Bayelsa State, the values of Cadmium and Iron were higher than the regulatory standards limit.

“The Cadmium in the water was between 0.001 and 0.173 milligramme per litre (mg/l) with an average value of 0.064 mg/l. This is above the regulatory limit of 0.05 mg/l as well as the control sample value of 0.08 mg/l.

“Similarly, the value of the iron content in water in the area ranged between 1.914 and 3.408 mg/l with a mean value of 2.503 mg/l. This is above the regulatory limit of 1.00 mg/l.

“The values of the parameters in sediments were substantially within regulatory limits. The values of Chromium and copper in the sampled dead fishes’ tissue were slightly higher than the European Union (EU) Standards limits,” Nusa stated.

The NOSDRA D-G noted that having ruled out oil pollution as the cause for the dead fishes, the plausible causes could partially be attributable to other human-related pollution activities which are probably land-based.

“In this case, while it is commonly observed that most industrial and domestic wastes which contain heavy metals such as cadmium, iron, zinc, copper found their ways into drainages and onward transfer to the water bodies.

“Their deleterious impact may be negative to aquatic species, other mammals and human beings. The main sources of these are batteries, galvanised pipes, fertilisers, sewage sludge and plastics.

“Such may be the case in the analyses of dead fishes found at the coastline in Delta and Bayelsa where chromium was found in fish tissue.

“Copper was also found in the fish tissue sampled in Delta State but not in those of Bayelsa and Rivers State.

“Furthermore, a sudden release of heavy metals is not likely to kill fishes except those trapped at the point of release because cadmium, in particular, is highly toxic.

“Long term accumulation (chronic) rather than short term (acute) heavy metals could cause the death of fishes. It is also curious that a specific species of fish is allegedly involved in the circumstance under consideration,” Mr Musa said.

He recommended that the country should pay more attention to the activities of those illegally carrying out fishing in our territorial waters to guard against possible dumping of wastes as well as unwanted aquatic species. (NAN)

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/392742-why-dead-fishes-were-found-on-niger-delta-coastline-nosdra.html

Fish wey dem dry,wey don already finish for market.

They should figure out the source of these leaks. Fine who evers responsible and get them to comply with regulations.

We had incidences of industrial waste being dumped in coastal cities by foreing companies

I hope it's not a repeat because we don't have adequate coastal monitoring systems

Navy no get enough personnel, training, boats etc

I wish government would just put on some big boy pants and really help these communities fight toxic waste. It’s appalling to see foreign companies dump toxic wastes anyhow

Imagine where dem dey carry nigeria's wealth from.. If na north oil dey ehnn... The north go align themselves with Arab world wearing white n robes.. U dare not enter their with shirt n jeans.. Hian!

donbachi:
Fish wey dem dry,wey don already finish for market.

Exactly. Quite unfortunate


“He recommended that the country should pay more attention to the activities of those illegally carrying out fishing in our territorial waters to guard against possible dumping of wastes as well as unwanted aquatic species. (NAN)“



Na today?

Yankee101:
We had incidences of industrial waste being dumped in coastal cities by foreing companies

I hope it's not a repeat because we don't have adequate coastal monitoring systems

Navy no get enough personnel, training, boats etc

Sir do you work with Navy??

donbachi:
Fish wey dem dry,wey don already finish for market.

Lol who ever eats it is retarded...

Blue3k:


Lol who ever eat it is retarded...

Interesting, but I beg to differ. If you're talking about high toxicity levels, due to the presence of heavy metals such as chromium and copper. not to talk of high cadium presence in the tissues of they got from the fishes. Then why is it mainly only one specie of fish is mainly being affected.

Now I understand

Quite terrible! The toxicity is also affecting humans and the residual effect would be evident in few years to come

Tgif

H

Industries capable of producing such wastes are not located in the Niger Delta area. They just jumped into conclusion,with the hope of killing the matter.

They have systematically exonerated the oil companies

I thought as much, any chemical or toxic waste capable of killing a fish could cause serious harm to human too. Thank God there have not been reports of sickness or death in that region since then

donbachi:
Fish wey dem dry,wey don already finish for market.

Sadly the truth that humans have already consumed them.

Too bad that those fishes will end in bellies of unsuspecting Nigerians but hey, na food poison dey fear our belle not the other way round.

A

These heavy metals are all components of produced water.


Oilfield produced water contains heavy metals such as mercury and lead, as well as metalloids such as arsenic, in varied concentrations depending on formation geology and age of the well. Metal concentrations in produced water are usually higher than those found in sea water. The most commonly studied metals are Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ni, Ag, and Zn.
Produced water contains other trace metals including Al, B, Fe, Li, Mn, Se, and Sr. Certain metals are of particular environmental concern as they may bioaccumulate and/or be toxic.

Just kwantinue, till una scatter all the coastal communities finish.

Simoly because of the polluted water

Witch fish them

Reading

kuss:
They have systematically exonerated the oil companies

Your head dey there

Wow. This will be useful/necessary ONLY if it will get them prepared against future occurrence. But no, it'll repeat it self

Hmm


And I heard people travelled all the way from Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia to pack the fish.


There is indeed hunger and poverty in land.