Metal Contamination of Ethmalosis (Ethmalosa fimbriata Bowdich, 1825) In the Bietri Bay (Ebrie Lagoon, Côte D'Ivoire).

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the organotropism of four trace elements (Cd, Zn, Pb, As) and their concentrations in two organs (gills, muscles) of ethmalosis (Ethmalosa fimbriata) collected from Biétri Bay. The concentrations of the trace elements were determined by adsorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that the bioaccumulation of the measured metals is more important in the gills than in the muscles. For all four trace elements analyzed, Biétri Bay samples showed higher average concentrations than samples from Vitré 2, a control site. These high concentrations observed in the Biétri Bay samples indicate a heavy contamination of this zone. The average levels of cadmium (0.97 mg / kg dry weight), lead (5.23 mg / kg dry weight) and Arsenic (2.34 mg / kg dry weight) are higher than the standards set by ABNORM for samples from Biétri Bay. The consumption of these fish could therefore constitute a danger for human health. On the other hand for these same heavy metals, the average concentrations recorded in the muscle of the fish caught in Vitré 2 (Cd = 0.16mg / kg of dry weight, Pb = 0.87mg / kg of dry weight, As = 0.59 mg / kg of weight dry) are below standard.