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River Benue, the second largest river in Nigeria, serves as the major source of municipal water supplies for towns and villages along its course. Water samples from the river were collected at ten stations in the Makurdi metropolitan area (7°44(') N, 8°32(') E) in Benue State, Central Nigeria, for 12 months and analyzed for their heavy metals concentration, along with other water-quality parameters such as turbidity, pH, total dissolved solids and total solids. The results revealed that the mean concentrations of heavy metals in the river was in the following ascending order, Cd < Cu < Zn < Mn < Pb < Cr < Fe. The levels of most of the parameters determined, with the exception of Cd, Cr and Pb were, generally, within acceptable limits for drinking water. From the present study, it is concluded that the River Benue is only moderately contaminated with regard to heavy metals, in the Makurdi metropolitan area.

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The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Mercuric chloride on the growth and haematological parameters in the freshwater catfish, Clarias gariepinus. A total of 30 fishes were used for each concentration as well as in the control. Clarias gariepinus was exposed to 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.10 mg/l of HgCl 2 for 56 days. The treatment with mercuric chloride was found to inflict a drastic reduction in the total count of RBC's. The reduction was time dependent; as concentration of mercuric chloride increased, the RBC levels declined. Exposed fishes showed a significant decrease in WBC count when compared to the control. The morphological indices MCV, MCH and MCHC fluctuate as the test concentration increased. The chronic exposure to sublethal Isiyaku et al.; JEAI, 33(6): 1-7, 2019; Article no.JEAI.27104 2 concentration of mercuric chloride to the studied fish showed a significant decrease in final body weight in comparison to control group. Also, Growth parameters such as specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion efficiency (FCE), protein efficiency ratio (PER), food conversion rate (FCR) decreased with increased concentration of mercuric chloride. The mercuric chloride caused a significant decrease in the survival rate (P < 0.05). Original Research ArticleMeans on the same row with different superscript are statistically different (p<0.05). Keys: Control = 0.00 , Trt 1 = 0.02mg/l, Trt 2 = 0.04mg/l, Trt 3 = 0.06mg/l, Trt 4 = 0.08mg/l, Trt 5 = 0.10mg/l MIW=Mean initial weight, MFW=Mean final weight, MWG=Mean weight gain, SGR=Specific growth rate, FCR=Food conversion rate, FCE=Food conversion efficiency, PER= Protein Efficiency Ratio Peer-review history: The peer review history for this paper can be accessed here: