Trace metal concentrations in the abiotic and biotic components of River Rwizi ecosystem in western Uganda, and the risks to human health
The distribution of metals in the Rwizi River ecosystem was investigated and human health risks were assessed. Samples of water, sediment, damselfly larvae (Ceriagrion glabrum) and fish species (Brycinus sadleri and Barbus altianalis), were collected at six sites. In all samples the trace elements A...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021024300 |
| _version_ | 1818434486690381824 |
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| author | Anthony Basooma Lies Teunen Nathan Semwanga Lieven Bervoets |
| author_facet | Anthony Basooma Lies Teunen Nathan Semwanga Lieven Bervoets |
| author_sort | Anthony Basooma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The distribution of metals in the Rwizi River ecosystem was investigated and human health risks were assessed. Samples of water, sediment, damselfly larvae (Ceriagrion glabrum) and fish species (Brycinus sadleri and Barbus altianalis), were collected at six sites. In all samples the trace elements As, Al, Au, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Zn, were quantified. Sediment samples near the gold mine had significantly higher concentrations of Hg, Fe and Al although all the concentrations were below the probable effect concentrations (PEC). The dissolved concentrations of trace metals were within the European standards and WHO drinking water guidelines. However, Fe and Mn concentrations exceeded the standards at three sites. The damselfly larvae were good indicators of local metal pollution. The fish species accumulated metal levels in the order gills > liver > muscle for most metals except for Hg. Multiple regressions between accumulated metals in damselfly with environmental metal levels showed only for Au and Cd significant positive relationships. Relating environmental metal levels and physicochemical characteristics to the levels in the invertebrates, only for Cu and Pb significant relationships were found. With respect to the measured metals, the fish were safe for human consumption in most cases although Brycinus sadleri posed a potential health risk due to a As hazard quotient (HQ) of 2.2 that exceeded the critical value of 1. Similarly, the maximum edible risk-free quantity (Q) for As in Brycinus sadleri was 1.5 g (95 % CI), less than the minimum risk free quantity of 31.5 g. In conclusion, the river water was safe for drinking but the extraction of gold using Hg should be replaced with an environmentally friendly method or an effective wastewater treatment should be instituted. People should be cautioned from consuming Brycinus sadler i to avoid potential health hazards. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:37:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-57d4e7c654b44c68b2863b5a033e1925 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:37:46Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-57d4e7c654b44c68b2863b5a033e19252022-12-21T22:54:25ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402021-11-01711e08327Trace metal concentrations in the abiotic and biotic components of River Rwizi ecosystem in western Uganda, and the risks to human healthAnthony Basooma0Lies Teunen1Nathan Semwanga2Lieven Bervoets3Department of Biology, Laboratory of Systemic, Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan, 171 2020, Antwerp, Belgium; Capture Fisheries & Biodiversity Conservation Program, National Fisheries Resources Research Institute, P.O. Box, 343, Jinja, UgandaDepartment of Biology, Laboratory of Systemic, Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan, 171 2020, Antwerp, BelgiumDepartment of Zoology, Entomology & Fisheries Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Biology, Laboratory of Systemic, Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan, 171 2020, Antwerp, Belgium; Corresponding author.The distribution of metals in the Rwizi River ecosystem was investigated and human health risks were assessed. Samples of water, sediment, damselfly larvae (Ceriagrion glabrum) and fish species (Brycinus sadleri and Barbus altianalis), were collected at six sites. In all samples the trace elements As, Al, Au, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Zn, were quantified. Sediment samples near the gold mine had significantly higher concentrations of Hg, Fe and Al although all the concentrations were below the probable effect concentrations (PEC). The dissolved concentrations of trace metals were within the European standards and WHO drinking water guidelines. However, Fe and Mn concentrations exceeded the standards at three sites. The damselfly larvae were good indicators of local metal pollution. The fish species accumulated metal levels in the order gills > liver > muscle for most metals except for Hg. Multiple regressions between accumulated metals in damselfly with environmental metal levels showed only for Au and Cd significant positive relationships. Relating environmental metal levels and physicochemical characteristics to the levels in the invertebrates, only for Cu and Pb significant relationships were found. With respect to the measured metals, the fish were safe for human consumption in most cases although Brycinus sadleri posed a potential health risk due to a As hazard quotient (HQ) of 2.2 that exceeded the critical value of 1. Similarly, the maximum edible risk-free quantity (Q) for As in Brycinus sadleri was 1.5 g (95 % CI), less than the minimum risk free quantity of 31.5 g. In conclusion, the river water was safe for drinking but the extraction of gold using Hg should be replaced with an environmentally friendly method or an effective wastewater treatment should be instituted. People should be cautioned from consuming Brycinus sadler i to avoid potential health hazards.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021024300Hazard quotientTrace metalsRiver RwiziCeriagrion glabrumBarbus altianalisBrycinus sadleri |
| spellingShingle | Anthony Basooma Lies Teunen Nathan Semwanga Lieven Bervoets Trace metal concentrations in the abiotic and biotic components of River Rwizi ecosystem in western Uganda, and the risks to human health Heliyon Hazard quotient Trace metals River Rwizi Ceriagrion glabrum Barbus altianalis Brycinus sadleri |
| title | Trace metal concentrations in the abiotic and biotic components of River Rwizi ecosystem in western Uganda, and the risks to human health |
| title_full | Trace metal concentrations in the abiotic and biotic components of River Rwizi ecosystem in western Uganda, and the risks to human health |
| title_fullStr | Trace metal concentrations in the abiotic and biotic components of River Rwizi ecosystem in western Uganda, and the risks to human health |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trace metal concentrations in the abiotic and biotic components of River Rwizi ecosystem in western Uganda, and the risks to human health |
| title_short | Trace metal concentrations in the abiotic and biotic components of River Rwizi ecosystem in western Uganda, and the risks to human health |
| title_sort | trace metal concentrations in the abiotic and biotic components of river rwizi ecosystem in western uganda and the risks to human health |
| topic | Hazard quotient Trace metals River Rwizi Ceriagrion glabrum Barbus altianalis Brycinus sadleri |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021024300 |
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