Publication: Levels of heavy metals in the straightfin barb Enteromius paludinosus (Peters 1852) from River Malewa, Naivasha, Kenya
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2018-11-12
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NRF
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Environ Monit Assess
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Abstract
There have been several studies on heavy
metals in Lake Naivasha. However, none of them has
reported the levels of mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and
chromium (Cr). Moreover, there are no studies on the
heavy metals’ concentrations in the straightfin barb
(Enteromius paludinosus, Peters 1852), a fish species
that hosts a parasite (Ligula intestinalis), the latter hav
ing been reported to have a high ability to absorb heavy
metals from its host. This paper therefore addresses the
accumulation of heavy metals, namely arsenic (As),
chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) in the
tissues of straightfin barb, Enteromius paludinosus (Pe
ters 1852) from the mouth of River Malewa in Lake
Naivasha, Kenya. A total of 1307 fish were collected
during the month of November 2017. Water samples,
sediment samples, 25 fish muscle tissues, and its endo
parasite, the cestode Ligula intestinalis,wereisolated,
and heavy metal concentrations were determined using
the thermal-electron atomic absorption spectrophotom
eter at the Lake Nakuru Water Quality Testing Labora
tory. The concentrations of heavy metals in the sediment
werebelowthelowesteffectlevel insediment, threshold
effect concentration in sediment, severe effect concen
tration in sediment, and the shale values of sedimentary
rocks thus showing no sign of pollution. In the muscle
tissues of the fish, As, Cr, Pb, and Hg showed high
levels with mean concentrations of 5.0696, 22.0854,
Bioconcentration factors further supported the observa
tion that trace element accumulation was higher in fish
compared with sediment and water. The target hazard
quotients of As, Cr, Pb, and Hg obtained for both the
female and male were >1 indicating a possible health
risk associated with the consumption of E. paludinosus.
The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for L. intestinalis
were 2.4093, 2.1873, 5.8601, and 5.1395 for As, Cr, Pb,
and Hg, respectively, indicating the potential of the
cestode in the accumulation of heavy metals from the
host; hence, it can be used as an accumulation
bioindicator.