Mercury concentration in muscle, bellyfat and liver from Oreochromis niloticus and Lates niloticus consumed in Lake Albert fishing communities in Uganda

Tamale, Andrew; Ejobi, Francis; Munier, Charles; Naigaga, Irene; Nakavuma, Jessica; Ocaido, Micheal; Drago, Kato; Sente, Celsus

doi:10.1080/23311932.2016.1214996

Cited by 14 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…This is important since heavy metal concentrations in herbal distillates in Iran [ 39 ] show that heavy metal bioaccumulation occurs in animals following consumption of polluted fodder [ 40 ]. In Uganda, heavy metal contaminations in water [ 41 ] and fish [ 42 ] are indicators of environmental contamination, showing that the ecosystem in Uganda contains high levels of inorganic pollutants. Bearing in mind that micronutrients such as Zn, Cu, and Fe are important to the body [ 17 – 19 ], routine monitoring of these molecules in milk and beef would help to promote public protection [ 4 , 5 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food Safety Analysis of Milk and Beef in Southwestern Uganda

Kasozi

Natabo

Namubiru

et al. 2018

Journal of Environmental and Public Health

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Background Inorganic pollutants in milk and beef are of major public health concern; however, information in Africa is still limited due to low food safety monitoring practices. In this study, we established levels of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) in milk and beef and obtained the estimated daily intake (EDI) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) as measures of risk to the Ugandan population. Materials and Methods This was a cross-sectional study in which a total of 40 samples of milk and beef were collected from Bushenyi district in southwestern Uganda. Samples were analyzed by atomic absorbance spectrophotometer, and the EDI and ILCR were computed using the US EPA reference values. Results and Discussion Heavy metal concentrations were highest in the order of Zn > Fe > Pb > Cu in milk samples, while in beef samples, concentrations were highest in the order of Zn > Pb > Fe > Cu and no Cd was detected. Furthermore, beef had significantly higher (P < 0.05) Pb and Fe concentrations than milk. The EDI was highest in children, and this was followed by very high ILCR levels, showing that milk and beef are not safe for children in Uganda. Bearing in mind that a high HI was shown, beef and milk from these regions are not recommended for consumption especially by children although more studies remain to be conducted. Conclusion Heavy metals in milk and beef of Uganda may predispose the indigenous community to cancer and other health-related illnesses, showing a need for improved food safety screening to promote food safety.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food Safety Analysis of Milk and Beef in Southwestern Uganda

Kasozi

Natabo

Namubiru

et al. 2018

Journal of Environmental and Public Health

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“…Secondary data was collected from two studies executed in the Lake Albert region. The first study contributed sociocultural information on the household size, frequency of fish consumption, amount of fish consumed, fish species ( Oreochromis niloticus and Lates niloticus ) and parts eaten (Andrew, Francis, Charles, Naigaga, Jesca , et al, 2016 ). The second study by (Andrew, Francis, Charles, Naigaga, Jesca, et al, 2016 ) contributed the mercury amounts in different fish species and parts, the amounts of fish used to generate the mercury quantities and the percentages of the samples above the FAO/WHO guideline values.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk estimates for children and pregnant women exposed to mercury-contaminated Oreochromis niloticus and Lates niloticus in Lake Albert Uganda

Tamale

Ejobi

Munier

et al. 2016

Cogent Food & Agriculture

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Exposure to mercury contaminated fish predisposes populations particularly children and pregnant women to various health hazards including neurotoxicity, reproductive abnormalities and cognitive disorders. Earlier studies in the Lake Albert community have demonstrated the presence of mercury in Nile tilapia and Nile perch. However, the risk estimates for vulnerable groups such as Children and pregnant women is not well documented. Secondary data-set from previous studies were employed comprising family household size and fish consumption history, fish consumption quantity and frequency and mercury levels in fish species in comparison with FAO/WHO guidelines. Data collected was used to establish the hazard quotients (HQs) for the vulnerable group and the general population. A risk model was developed using iRISK to demonstrate the Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) for eating different parts of the fish (muscle and bellyfat). HQ values (HQ = 2.05) above one for the vulnerable group were realized especially with Nile perch muscle. The highest DALYs (0.111) was obtained with tilapia muscle consumption. The study outcome reveals that vulnerable populations are at risk of non-carcinogenic complications. Therefore, there is a need for sensitization of the community especially the vulnerable groups about risks associated with consuming mercury-contaminated fish.

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“…The rations of fish consumed are reduced leading to loss of benefits conferred through fish consumption (Gimou et al, 2013). This situation shall worsen through consumption of contaminated fish (Tamale et al, 2016a). The contaminated fish will result in high exposures to hazards contained therein leading to fish toxicity cases (Tang, Kwong, Chung, Ho, & Xiao, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to the establishment of the hazards in water, most advisories reports have established the levels of the contaminants/hazards in food sources so as to have a complete picture of the community exposure (Mdegela et al, 2009; Tamale et al, 2016a). The summation of risks (Hazard quotients) from various sources for humans’ lead to computation of the hazard index (Narottam & Zaman, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These hazards lead to carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, immune suppression and the cognition effects especially on children under 17 years, women of childbearing age, and pregnant women (Mansilla-Rivera & Rodríguez-Sierra, 2011; Zeilmaker et al, 2013). Both lead and mercury have been established in the fish and fish parts consumed in the Lake Albert community beyond FAO/WHO guidelines (Andrew et al, 2016). Governments have issued fish consumption advisories based on the information available about the hazards quantities in the fish (Engelberth et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sociocultural factors associated with fish consumption in Lake Albert fishing community: Guidelines for lead and mercury

Tamale

Ejobi

Munier

et al. 2017

Cogent Environmental Science

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Fish consumption in subsistence fishing community is a life style associated with lead and mercury uptake for humans. Fish consumption is influenced by sociocultural factors, exposure and health risks. Unfortunately, no sociocultural study in the Lake Albert fishing community in light of lead and mercury exists. A cross-sectional sociocultural study was carried out between March and June 2015. A total of 270 household heads in four landing sites in Hoima district completed structured questionnaires and data analyzed using SPSS version 20. The majority of the households (74.8%) had primary education or below, 51.1% drank unboiled water, and 30% perceived lake water safe for drinking. Children under five ate soup (15%) and middle piece of the fish (29%). The Poisson general linear model predicting weekly fish consumption amounts against sociocultural factors showed that household size ( p = 0.047), male child presence ( p = 0.007), methods of preparation i.e. salting ( p < 0.0001), fish parts consumed by adults ( p < 0.0001), fish preference ( p < 0.0001), awareness about the beach management unit ( p < 0.0001), and income from charcoal selling ( p < 0.0001) were positive predictors. The negative predictors of weekly fish consumption amounts were awareness about fish consumption benefits ( p < 0.0001), eating young fish ( p = 0.002), donor agency presence ( p < 0.0001), and frying as the method of fish preparation ( p = 0.002). In conclusion, knowledge of the sociocultural factors associated with fish consumption determines the amounts and frequency of the predominant fish eaten. Therefore, to establish and adopt fish consumption guidelines for lead and mercury in the Lake Albert, the sociocultural factors should be integrated in the message disseminated.

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Mercury concentration in muscle, bellyfat and liver from Oreochromis niloticus and Lates niloticus consumed in Lake Albert fishing communities in Uganda

Cited by 14 publications

References 28 publications

Food Safety Analysis of Milk and Beef in Southwestern Uganda

Food Safety Analysis of Milk and Beef in Southwestern Uganda

Risk estimates for children and pregnant women exposed to mercury-contaminated Oreochromis niloticus and Lates niloticus in Lake Albert Uganda

Sociocultural factors associated with fish consumption in Lake Albert fishing community: Guidelines for lead and mercury

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