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
item.page.type
Journal Article (peer-reviewed)
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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