Heavy metals concentration in the blood and gills of Clarias gariepinus obtained from two dams (Asa and University of Ilorin), Kwara State, Nigeria was carried out to determine their level of safety for human consumption. Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) in blood and gill of species from the two dams were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Blood and extracted gills were digested for heavy metal concentration. The results showed that heavy metals concentration in the blood sampled from the University dam were in order of Zinc > Copper > Cadmium. Cromium and lead were not detected while accumulations in gills were in order of Copper>Cadmium>Zinc. In fish samples from Asa dam, heavy metals concentrations in the blood were in order of Zinc > Copper > Cadmium > Cromium. Lead was not detected while concentrations in the gills were also in order of gills > blood. The results show that C. gariepinus from Asa dam bioaccumulated heavy metals at higher concentrations than samples from Unilorin dam with the exception of Cu which was higher in the samples from Unilorin dam. The heavy metals concentration detected in C. gariepinus sampled from the two dams did not exceed the limits set by WHO and FAO thereby making the fishes wholesome for human consumption
Keywords: Blood, gills, dams, heavy metals and Clarias gariepinus