Mercury in fish from three rift valley lakes (Turkana, Naivasha and Baringo), Kenya, East Africa

Date

2003

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Elsevier

Abstract

The potent human neurotoxicant methylmercury (MeHg) normally constitutes at least 90% of the total mercury (THg) burden in fish. Since MeHg biomagnifies through food webs, concentrations in top predator fish can be three orders of magnitude higher than those in ambient waters. This data shows THg in fish from three eastern Rift Valley lakes, Turkana, Baringo and Naivasha, all with locally important fisheries and very different environments. With the exception of H. forskahlii from Lake Turkana, THg concentrations in fish from Kenyan lakes do not pose unacceptable risk to human consumers or wildlife according to WHO guidelines.

Description

Keywords

FISHERY, MERCURY, WATER POLLUTANTS, CHEMICAL ANALYSIS, KENYA, SOUTH OF SAHARA, LAKES, TOXICITY

Citation

Campbell, L. M., Osano, O., Hecky, R. E., & Dixon, D. G. (2003). Mercury in fish from three rift valley lakes (Turkana, Naivasha and Baringo), Kenya, East Africa. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 125(2), 281–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0269-7491(03)00053-8

DOI