Trace elements in water, sediments and the elongate tigerfish Hydrocynus forskahlii ( Cuvier, 1819) from Lake Turkana, Kenya including health risk analysis

Author(s)
Franz Jirsa, Elick O. Otachi, Christof Plessl, Annemarie Avenant-Oldewage
Abstract

This study presents the distribution of 17 major and trace elements in surface water, sediments and fish tissues from Lake Turkana, Kenya. Eight sediment and 10 water samples from the west bank of the lake, as well as 34 specimens of the elongate tigerfish Hydrocynus forskahlii caught in that region were examined. It is the first report for Li, Rb, Sr, Mo from the lake and the first report on most of the trace elements for this fish species. The concentrations of elements in the water and sediments showed no sign of pollution. In fish muscle, Li, Zn and Cd showed relatively high abundances, with mean concentrations of 206, 427 and 0.56 mg/kg dw, respectively. The calculated target hazard quotient (THQ) values for Li, Zn, Sr and Cd were 138.7, 1.9, 4.1 and 0.76, respectively; therefore the consumption of these fish poses a health risk to humans in the area.

Organisation(s)
Department of Inorganic Chemistry
External organisation(s)
Egerton University, University of Johannesburg (UJ)
Publication date
01-2016
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
104023 Environmental chemistry, 106027 Ecotoxicology
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/trace-elements-in-water-sediments-and-the-elongate-tigerfish-hydrocynus-forskahlii--cuvier-1819-from-lake-turkana-kenya-including-health-risk-analysis(66509ea3-5930-418f-a2af-e1b9b5075a78).html