Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination in Fish Cultured in Selected Private Fishponds and Associated Public Health Risk Concerns, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Year 2022, Volume: 11 Issue: 2, 246 - 258, 24.06.2022

Leopord Sibomana Leonard , Anesi Mahenge Nehemia Mudara

https://doi.org/10.33714/masteb.1108314

Cited By: 6

Abstract

Environmental pollution caused by the increase of heavy metals concentration in aquatic and terrestrial environments is a growing global concern due to their nature and toxicity. This paper aimed to undertake an assessment of the quality of fish cultured in individual-owned fishponds in Dar es Salaam city and their associated health risks. Data collection involved sampling and quantification of the quality of two species of fish, which were African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), from three selected fish ponds in Dar es Salaam and chemical analysis involved heavy metals analysis in gills, fins, guts, and muscles. The concentrations of heavy metals were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Results of this study indicated that the concentrations of trace metals in fish tissues varied considerably. The fish gills had higher concentrations of Cr, Zn, Cu, and Pb than the fins and guts, while muscles had the lowest concentrations of heavy metals in all fish species. A highly significant difference in the heavy metal concentrations measured in both catfish and tilapia tissues was observed with a P value of less than 0.05. Individual risk assessment showed that there was a minimal risk caused by the concentrations of Cr, Zn, and Cu upon consumption of fish; however, the combined effect was higher caused by the high concentration of Pb in fish organs. Monitoring of fish quality in privately owned fish ponds is recommended to safeguard consumers.

Keywords

Assessment, Contamination, Dar es Salaam, Fish-Ponds, Metals, Risk

Supporting Institution

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or non-profit organization.

Thanks

Strong cooperation provided by fish pond owners in Dar es Salaam, relevant permissions from local government authorities in Dar es Salaam, and SEST laboratory staff during analytical works and the working environment at Ardhi University are highly appreciated.

References

• Akoto, O., Eshunu, B. F., Darko, G., & Adei, E. (2014). Concentrations and Health risk assessment of heavy metals in fish from the Fosu Lagoon. International Journal of Environmental Research, 8(2), 403-410. https://doi.org/10.22059/ijer.2014.731
• Cohen, A. S., Bills, R., Cocquyt, C. Z., & Caljon, A. G. (1993). The impact of sediment pollution on biodiversity in Lake Tanganyika. Conservation Biology, 7(3), 667-677. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.1993.07030667.x
• Darko, G., Azanu, D., & Logo, N. K. (2016). Accumulation of toxic metals in fish raised from sewage-fed aquaculture and estimated health risks associated with their consumption. Cogent Environmental Science, 2(1), 1190116. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2016.1190116
• Deloitte. (2015). Market study on the aquaculture sector in East Africa.
• FAO. (1983). Compilation of legal limits for hazardous substances in fish and fishery products.
• Imlani, A. H., Tastan, Y., Tahiluddin, A. B., Bilen, S., Jumah, Y. U., & Sonmez, A. Y. (2022). Preliminary determination of heavy metals in sediments, water and some macroinvertebrates in Tawi-Tawi Bay, Philippines. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin, 11(1), 113-122. https://doi.org/10.33714/masteb.1070711
• Kosygin, L., Dhamendra, H., & Gyaneshwari, R. (2007). Pollution status and conservation strategies of Moirang River, Manipur with a note on its aquatic bio-resources. Journal of Environmental Biology, 28(3), 669–673.
• Kumari, P., & Maiti, S. K. (2019). Health risk assessment of lead, mercury, and other metal(loids): A potential threat to the population consuming fish inhabiting, a lentic ecosystem in Steel City (Jamshedpur), India. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 25(8), 2174-2192. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2018.1495055
• Kyelu, A. (2016). Analysis of socio-economic and environmental effects of urban fish farming in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. [Master’s Thesis. Sokoine University of Agriculture].
• Leonard, L. S., & Mahengea, A. (2022). Assessment of water quality from privately owned fish ponds used for aquaculture in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Applied Journal of Environmental Engineering Science, 8(1), 20-33. https://doi.org/10.48422/IMIST.PRSM/ajees-v8i1.29831
• Leonard, L. S., Mwegoha, W. J. S., & Kihampa, C. (2012). Heavy metal pollution and urban agriculture in Msimbazi River Valley: Health risk and public awareness. International Journal of Plant, Animal and Environmental Sciences, 2(2), 107-118.
• Mahjoub, M., Maadoudi, M. E. I., & Smiri,Y. (2020). Metallic contamination of the muscles of three fish species from the Moulouya River (Lower Moulouya, Eastern Morocco). International Journal of Ecology, 2020, 8824535. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8824535
• MALF. (2015). Annual Fisheries Statistics, Fisheries Statistics. The United Republic of Tanzania, Ministry of Agriculture livestock and Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.
• Maliki, D. S., & Maurya, P. K. (2015). Heavy metal concentration in water, sediment, and tissues of fish species (Heteropneustis fossilis and Puntius ticto) from Kali River, India. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, 96(8), 1195-1206. https://doi.org/10.1080/02772248.2015.1015296
• Mannzhi, M. P., Edokpayi, J. N., Durowoju, O. S., Gumbo, J., & Odiyo, J. O. (2021). Assessment of selected trace metals in fish feeds, pond water and edible muscles of Oreochromis mossambicus and the evaluation of human health risk associated with its consumption in Vhembe district of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Toxicology Reports, 8, 705-717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2021.03.018
• Mapenzi, L. L., Shimba, M. J., Moto, E. A, Maghembe, R. S., & Mmochi, A. J. (2019). Heavy metals bio-accumulation in tilapia and catfish species in lake Rukwa ecosystem Tanzania. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 208, 106413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2019.106413
• Matusch, A., Depboylu, C., Palm, C., Wu, B., Gunter, U., Hoglinger, G. U., Schafer, M. K. H., & Becker, J. S. (2010). Cerebral bioimaging of Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn in the MPTP mouse model of Parkinson’s disease using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, 21(1), 161-171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasms.2009.09.022
• Maurya, P. K., & Malik, D. S. (2019). Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in tissues of selected fish species from Ganga River, India, and risk assessment for human health. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 25(4), 905-923. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2018.1456897
• Mohamad, N. A., Mohamadin, M. I., Ahmad, W. A. R. W., & Sahari, N. (2017). Heavy metals concentrations in catfish (Clarius gariepinus) from three different farms in Sarawak, Malaysia. Scientific International Lahore, 29(1), 51-55. Monteiro, D. A., Rantin, F. T., & Kalinin, A. L. (2013). Dietary intake of inorganic mercury: bioaccumulation and oxidative stress parameters in the neotropical fish Hoplias malabaricus. Ecotoxicology, 22, 446-456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-012-1038-5
• Mwegoha, W. J. S., & Kihampa, C. (2010). Heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils and water in Dar es Salaam city, Tanzania. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 4(11), 763-769.
• Nzeve, J. K., Njuguna, S. G., & Kitur, E. C. (2014). Bioaccumulation of Heavy metals in Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis spirulus Niger from Masinga Reservoir, Kenya. Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology, 8(10), 58-63.
• Resma, N. S., Meaze, A. M. H., Hossain, S., Khandaker, M. U., Kamal, M., & Deb, N. (2020). The presence of toxic metals in popular farmed fish species and estimation of health risks through their consumption. Physics Open, 5, 100052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physo.2020.100052
• Rukanda, J. J. (2016). Evaluation of aquaculture developments in Tanzania. Nations University Fisheries Training Programme, Iceland (final project). http://www.unuftp.is/static/ferrows/document/janeth16aprt.pdf
• Rukanda, J. J. (2018). Evaluation of aquaculture development in Tanzania. Nations University Fisheries Training Programme, Iceland [final project]. https://www.grocentre.is/static/gro/publication/353/document/janeth16aprf.pdf
• Sarkar, M. M., Rohani, M. F., & Hossain, M. A. R. (2022). Evaluation of heavy metal contamination in some selected commercial fish feeds used in Bangladesh. Biological Trace Element Research, 200, 844–854. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02692-4
• Shaker, I. M., Elnady, M. A., Abdel-Wahed, R. K., & Soliman, M. A. M. (2018). Assessment of heavy metals concentration in water, sediment and fish under different management systems in earthen ponds. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 22(1), 25-39. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejabf.2018.7704
• URT. (2015). Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Fisheries Development Division, Annual Fisheries Statistics Report, 2015-2016.
• URT. (2019). Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. Livestock and Fisheries Commodity Value Chain Briefs.
• USEPA. (2011). Exposure Factors Handbook: National Center for Environmental Assessment, Washington, DC; EPA/600/R-09/052F. Available from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA, and online at https://www.epa.gov/ncea/efh
• USFDA. (1993). Guidance documents for trace elements in seafood. Washington DC: US Food and Drug Administration
• Vitek, T., Spurný, P., Mareš, J., & Zikova, A. (2007). Heavy metal contamination of the Loučka River water ecosystem. Acta Veterinaria Brno, 76(1), 149-154.
• Wenaty, A., Mabiki, F., Chove, B., & Mdegela, R. (2018). Fish consumers preferences, quantities of fish consumed and factors affecting fish eating habits: A case of Lake Victoria in Tanzania. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, 6(6), 247-252.
• WHO. (1995). The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995.
• Zheng, N., Wang, O., Zhang, X, Zheng, D., Zhang, Z., & Zhang, S. (2007). Population health risk due to dietary intake of heavy metals in the industrial area of Huludao City, China. Science of The Total Environment, 387(1-3), 96-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.07.044