TITLE:
Assessment of the Risk of Toxicity of Fish in the River Sô by Contamination in Heavy Metals (Southern Benin, West Africa)
AUTHORS:
Florence Tohozin, Waris Kéwouyèmi Chouti, Nafiou Chitou, Ringo Fernand Avahounlin, Carine Nelly Kélomè, Vissin W. Expédit
KEYWORDS:
Health Toxicity Risk, Sô River, Metallic Traces Elements, Fish
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.6 No.12,
December
29,
2018
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to assess the state of contamination of fish in the
Sô River by trace metal elements including Zinc, Lead, Cadmium, Copper
and Arsenic. Water samples and four species of both sexes (Clarias anguillaris, Kribia kribensis, Tilapia guineensis and Eleotris vittata) were collected
and analyzed. The pH, temperature and values of the chemical species present
in the water of the Sô River characterize an ecosystem favorable to the growth
of aquatic species. The Metallic Traces Elements (MTE) concentrations vary
from one fish species to another and depend on the sex and age of the animal.
Zinc and copper are more concentrated in males than females with the exception
of copper in Tilapia. The Pb concentration is higher in young Kribia and Clarias as well as Zn and Cd in young Tilapia. The concentrations in Cd and
Pb are well above the European standards and those in the Republic of Benin,
worrying results that express a health toxicity risk related to the consumption
of fish of the river Sô.