‘Burdens’ of selected heavy metals in common fish species from specific Kenyan freshwaters

Abstract

Heavy metals are a group of chemical contaminants available in the environment in different abundancies. Food is the major vehicle for entry into the human system. Fish may contribute a major source of heavy metals in the food chain. Concentration of heavy metals in commercially important species of fish from fish markets in and around the fresh water bodies area were evaluated using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer. A total of twelve fish species were sampled from all regions as follows: two from Lake Turkana, six from Lake Victoria and four from river Tana were analysed. The concentration ranges of Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Cd in the samples were 0.1703 – 0.6672, 0.2661 – 0.5073, 0.0104 – 0.419, 0.1831 – 0.327 and 0.0058 – 0.0404 mg/kg, respectively. This study showed that metals were present in the samples at different levels but below the maximum residual levels from EU and USFDA and hence fish from these areas are safe for human consumption.