Assessing the nutritional and biochemical composition of the African catfish (Clarias Gariepinus) exposed to the antifoam polydimethylsiloxane

There exists a visible evidence of linkage between pollutant exposure and nutritional deficiency in many organisms. The aim of the present study was to analyze the proximate composition of juvenile African catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ) exposed to polydimethylsiloxane (antifoam) for 56 days using a renewal bioassay. The moisture, crude protein, ash, and fat content of the fish samples were analyzed using standard methods. Antifoam concentrations at 0.0mg/L, 63.96mg/L, 127.9mg/L, 255.82mg/L, and 511.64mg/L were used for the sublethal exposure after which the proximate composition was analyzed. The water quality variables including dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and total dissolved solids varied as the concentration increased. The moisture and lipid contents were highest at 511.64mg/L concentration while the control(0.0mg/L) had the highest percentage composition of ash, protein, carbohydrate, and fiber contents which were normal values. The differences in proximate values were slightly significant at P >0.05 among the different concentrations. The findings in this study may be an indication that antifoam can significantly affect some water quality variables and proximate composition, while also portraying the risk associated with the consumption of such exposed fish.