scholarly journals Heavy Metals in Fish Muscle from an Ethiopian Rift-Valley Lake (Hawassa) and a Neighboring Stream (Boicha): Assessment of Human Health Risks

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1409-1418
Author(s):  
B. Samuel ◽  
S. Sorsa ◽  
F. Daniel ◽  
G. Riise ◽  
G.M. Zinabu

Concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Co, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Pb and Hg) in muscle tissues of two fish species (Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus) in an Ethiopian rift-valley lake (Hawassa) and a neighboring stream (Boicha) were determined. Target hazard quotients (THQ), hazard index (HI) and target cancer risk (TCR) were used as indices to evaluate potential human health risks from fish consumption. Average concentrations of metals decreased in the order Zn>Fe>Se>Cu>Hg>As>Ni>Cr>Co>Pb and Zn>Fe>Se>Cu>As>Hg>Cr>Ni>Pb>Co in muscle tissues of C. gariepinus and O. niloticus, respectively. Mean concentrations of Hg (0.34+0.04 mg kg-1) in muscle tissues of C. gariepinus from Lake Hawassa, and As (0.18+0.05 mg kg-1) as well as Hg (0.46+0.03 mg kg-1) in muscle tissues of C. gariepinus from Boicha stream were above the safety limits set by WHO/FAO. Likewise, mean concentrations of As (0.31+0.03 mg kg-1) and Hg (0.19+0.05 mg kg-1) in muscle tissues of O. niloticus from Lake Hawassa and Cr (0.19+0.03 mg kg-1), As (0.33 +0.04 mg kg-1), and Hg (0.34+0.09 mg kg-1) in O. niloticus from Boicha stream were also above safety limits. From the results of human health risk assessments it was concluded that Cr, Cu, Hg and As pose potential health risks due to consumption of the two fish species from both water bodies. Moreover, effects of all heavy metals put together may affect human health as indicated by the high HI. Effluents from industries are assumed to be the main sources of the heavy metals. Therefore, regular monitoring of the water bodies and policy interventions with respect to waste disposal are recommended to protect the health of the ecosystem and the public. Keywords: Fish consumption, health risk, heavy metals, Lake Hawassa

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrício Â. Gabriel ◽  
Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis ◽  
Lorena Soares ◽  
Ana Carolina A. Mazzuco ◽  
Rafael Christian Chavez Rocha ◽  
...  

Background The Rio Doce estuary, in Brazil, was impacted by the deposition of iron mine tailings, caused by the collapse of a dam in 2015. Based on published baseline datasets, the estuary has been experiencing chronic trace metal contamination effects since 2017, with potential bioaccumulation in fishes and human health risks. As metal and metalloid concentrations in aquatic ecosystems pose severe threats to the aquatic biota, we hypothesized that the trace metals in estuarine sediments nearly two years after the disaster would lead to bioaccumulation in demersal fishes and result in the biosynthesis of metal-responsive proteins. Methods We measured As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Se and Zn concentrations in sediment samples in August 2017 and compared to published baseline levels. Also, trace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Se and Zn) and protein (metallothionein and reduced glutathione) concentrations were quantified in the liver and muscle tissues of five fish species (Cathorops spixii, Genidens genidens, Eugerres brasilianus, Diapterus rhombeus and Mugil sp.) from the estuary, commonly used as food sources by local populations. Results Our results revealed high trace metal concentrations in estuarine sediments, when compared to published baseline values for the same estuary. The demersal fish species C. spixii and G. genidens had the highest concentrations of As, Cr, Mn, Hg, and Se in both, hepatic and muscle, tissues. Trace metal bioaccumulation in fish was correlated with the biosynthesis of metallothionein and reduced glutathione in both, liver and muscle, tissues, suggesting active physiological responses to contamination sources. The trace metal concentrations determined in fish tissues were also present in the estuarine sediments at the time of this study. Some elements had concentrations above the maximum permissible limits for human consumption in fish muscles (e.g., As, Cr, Mn, Se and Zn), suggesting potential human health risks that require further studies. Our study supports the high biogeochemical mobility of toxic elements between sediments and the bottom-dwelling biota in estuarine ecosystems.


2014 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ermias Deribe ◽  
Bjørn Olav Rosseland ◽  
Reidar Borgstrøm ◽  
Brit Salbu ◽  
Zinabu Gebremariam ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salwinder Singh Dhaliwal ◽  
Raj Setia ◽  
Vinod Kumar ◽  
Tapan Ghosh ◽  
Sagar Taneja ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 68-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Latiful Bari ◽  
Hasina Akhter Simol ◽  
Nusrat Khandoker ◽  
Rokeya Begum ◽  
Ummay Nasrin Sultana

Background. For over a decade, solid tannery waste has been converted into protein concentrate and used as a feed ingredient because of its cheap availability. However, as chromium sulfate is commonly used in the tanning process, the chromium (Cr) content of tanned skin-cut wastes (SCW) may enter the edible parts of poultry through feed. Therefore, there is a chance that Cr and other heavy metals may be present in the edible portion of poultry and consequently transfer to humans upon poultry consumption. Objectives. In this study, skin-cut wastes (SCW)-based poultry feed and the edible parts of chicken fed with this feed were analyzed to understand the potential health risks of their use as poultry feed. Methods. In the present study, the presence of heavy metal content in SCW, poultry feed, and edible portions of different kinds of chicken was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer methods and the associated health risk estimation was calculated by comparing the target hazard quotient (THQ) value and reference daily intake value. Results. The results revealed the presence of Cr content ranging from 0.12–3.11 mg/kg and lead (Pb) content ranging from 8.06–22.0 mg/kg in SCW. In addition, Cr and Pb were present in the range of 0.27–0.98 mg/kg and 10.27–10.36 mg/kg, respectively, in poultry feed. However, no cadmium (Cd) was found in SCW, but the presence of Cd ranged from 0.03–0.05 mg/kg in feed. When contaminated poultry feed was fed to live poultry, the presence of Cr, Pb and Cd was observed in the edible portions (i. e. skin, liver, gizzard, and meat). Irrespective of the edible parts and chicken type, Cr values ranged from 0.1–2.440 mg/kg; Pb values ranged from 0.257–1.750 mg/kg; and Cd values ranged from below detection limit (BDL) to 0.037 mg/kg. Conclusions. The estimated daily intake value, THQ, along with the aggregate hazard index value, indicated a potential risk to consumers through consumption of contaminated chicken. Therefore, the study results clearly demonstrate heavy metals accumulation in chicken due to feeding SCW-based feed. The contaminated chicken further transfers these heavy metals to humans through ingestion. Hence, there is a potential human health risk through consumption of contaminated chicken meat.


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