Heavy Metal Concentrations in Fish from River Tano in Ghana and the Health Risks Posed to Consumers

Abstract

Appreciable levels of trace metals have been reported in the Tano basin, but data on the corresponding levels in fish and the risk they pose to consumers are limited. The levels of 7 trace metals in 18 fish muscles were assessed between November 2016 and October 2017 using acid digestion and PerkinElmer (PinAACle 900T) Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Apart from Cu, all the metals studied were detected in all fish samples. The levels of Cr, As, and Hg were higher than the acceptable levels of fish muscles. Cr concentration ranged from 16.10 ± 0.2 mg/kg in Clarias gariepinus to 57.9 ± 4.2 mg/kg in Sarotherodon galilaeus. The levels of As ranged from 1.01 ± 0.08 in Clarias gariepinus to 3.00 ± 0.01 mg/kg in Mormyrus rume. Hg level was 0.58 ± 0.69 mg/kg in Oreochromis niloticus and 2.52 ± 0.70 mg/kg in Ctenopoma kingsleyae. However, Pb, Zn, and Cd concentrations were below the Food and Agriculture Organization limits with low target hazard quotients in all fish samples, suggesting no possible noncarcinogenic risks to adult consumers. Possible noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks were recorded for As, Hg, and Cr in all fish species. Strong associations were observed between Hg, As, Zn, and Cr and between Pb and Cd suggesting a possible common source. Mormyrus rume fish species was under stress in the river, but the remaining species were in good condition. Periodic monitoring of trace metal concentrations in fish and enforcement of the buffer zone policy are recommended.

Potential health risk and bio-accessibility of metal and minerals in saltpetre (a food additive)

“…However, the greatest source of exposure to heavy metals is through diet [ 8 ]. Several researchers have determined the levels of heavy metals food sources such as fishes [ 10 , 11 ], rice grains [ [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] ], yam [ 16 , 17 ], canned fruits, vegetables [ [18] , [19] , [20] ] and meat products [ [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] ]. According to Makay et al [ 6 ], heavy metals are highly stable and cannot be broken down during the processing of meat, and eventually bio-accumulates in the human tissues after consumption of the product.…”

Essential and Non-Essential Metal Concentrations in Shrimps from Iskenderun Bay, Türkiye

“…Aquatic environments and living organisms in Turkey, like the rest of the world, are contaminated with toxic pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and endocrine disruptors (Cucu et al, 2019;Esfahani et al, 2020;Jia et al, 2016;Nyantakyi et al, 2021;Yarsan and Yipel, 2013;Yipel and Yarsan, 2014). Because of their widespread use, toxicity, and resistance to biodegradation, as well as their accumulation and biomagnification in living beings in the food chain, heavy metals are significant among aquatic pollutants (Altınok-Yipel et al, 2022;Esfahani et al, 2020;Jia et al, 2016;Liu et al, 2019).…”