An Overview of Heavy Metal Pollution in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region of Kenya: A Review

Main Article Content

Jane Moraa Nyamora
James Njiru https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8874-6365
Albert Getabu
Kobingi Nyakeya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2908-8005
Agnes Muthumbi https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5861-023X

Keywords

Heavy metals, WIO region of Kenya, biomagnification, human health, monitoring and assessment

Abstract

This study is a review on heavy metal pollution in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region of Kenya. The review examines heavy metal pollution of copper, lead, cadmium, iron and zinc that are toxic to marine life and human health; and identifies gaps for future monitoring and assessment. Each pollutant was addressed in order to determine their status in the environment, sources and their effect on biological systems, marine organisms, and human health. Although the concentration levels of these metals are still low and within the recommended standards of global regulating bodies, there is little information in relation to their effects along the food web, human health and how they affect the population dynamics of fish species. Apart from regular monitoring and assessment further research on their effects in the food web and an assessment of human health is recommended.

Abstract 66 | PDF Downloads 30

References

Abdallah, M. A. M. (2007). Speciation of Trace Metals in Coastal Sediments of Ell-Mex Bay South Mediterenian Sea- West of Alexandria (Egypt). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 132, 111-123. 


Adu, O. K. (2010). An Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination of Sediments and Tissues of the clam galatea paradoxa (born 
1778) in the Volta Estuary, Ghana. MPHIL Thesis, Fisheries and Water Shed Management. 


Akan, J. C., Mohmoud, S., Yikala, B. S. & Ogugbuaja, V. O. (2012). Bioaccumulation of some heavy metals in fish samples from River Benue in Vinikilang, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Am. J. Anal. Chem. 3, 727–736.

Bard, S. M. (1999). Global transport of antlu'opogenic contaminants and the consequences for Arctic marine ecosystems. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 38(5): 356-379.

Bervoets, L., Voets, J., Covaci, A., Chu, S. G., Qadah, D., Smolders, R., et al. (2005). Use of transplanted zebra mussels (Dreissenapolymorpha) to assess the bioavailability of microcontaminants in Flemish surface waters. Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 1492-1505.

Bryan, G.W. (1976). Some effects of heavy metal tolerance in aquatic organisms. In A. P. M. Lockwood (Ed.), Effects of pollutants on aquatic organisms (pp. 7–34). Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, England.

Chiarelli, R. & Roccheri, C. M. (2014). Marine Invertebrates as Bioindicators of Heavy Metal Pollution. Open Journal of Metal, 4: 
93-106.

Demirezen, D. & Uruc, K. (2006). Comparative study of trace elements in certain fish, meat and meat products. Meat Science, 74(2), 255–260.

El-Moselhy, K. M., Othman, A. I., Abd El-Azem, H. & El-Metwally, M. E. A. (2014). Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in some tissues of fish in the Red Sea. Egypt. J. Basic Appl. Sci. 97–105.

Elnabris, K. J., Muzyed, S. K. & El-Ashgar, N. M. (2013). Heavy metal concentrations in some commercially important fishes and their contribution to heavy metals exposure in Palestinian people of Gaza Strip (Palestine). J. Assoc. Arab Univ. Basic Appl. Sci. 13, 44–51.

Everaarts, J. M., and Nieuwenhuize, J., (1995). Heavy metals in surface sediment and epibenthic macroinvertebrates from the coastal zone and continental slope of Kenya. Mar. Poll. Bull., 31( 4-12):281-289.

FAO/WHO (1984). List of maximum levels recommended for contaminants by the joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius 
Commission, 3:1-8 


FAO (1983). Compilation of legal limits for hazardous substances in fish and fishery prod- ucts. FAO Fish. Circ. vol. 464.

FAO (1983). Fisheries circular no. 764: Compilation of legal limits for hazardous substances in fish and fishery products. FAO, Rome.

Forstner, U. (1990). Contaminated sediments. Lecture Notes in Earth Science, 21. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 157 p.

Fraysse, B., Geffard, O., Berthet, B., Quéau, H., Biagianti-Risbourg, S., Geffard, A. (2006). Importance of metallothioneins in the cadmium detoxification process in Daphnia magna. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C Toxicol. Pharmacol. 144 (3), 286–293.

Freije, A. M. (2014). Heavy metal, trace element and petroleum hydrocarbon pollution in the Arabian Gulf: Review. Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Basic and Applied Sciences, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaubas.2014.02.001

Heidarieh, M., Maragheh, M. G., Shamani, M. A., Behgar, M., Ziaei, F. & Akbari, Z., (2013). Evaluate of Heavy Metal Concentration in Shrimp (Penaeus semisulcatus) and Crab (Portunus pelagicus) With INAA Method. 2. Springer Plus, 72. p.

Jadhav, J. P., Kalyani, D. C., Telke, A. A., Phugare, S. S., & Govindwar, S. P. (2010). Evaluation of the efficacy of a bacterial consortium for the removal of color, reduction of heavy metals, and toxicity from textile dye effluent. Bio. Res. Techn.,101, 165-173.

Javed, M. & Usmani (2013). Assessment of heavy metal (Cu, Ni, Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, Zn) pollution in effluent dominated rivulet water and their effect on glycogen metabolism and histology of Mastacembelus armatus. Springer Plus 2 (390), 1–13.

Kamau, J. N. (2002). Heavy metal distribution and enrichment at Port-Reitz Creek, Mombasa. Western Indian Ocean J. Mar. Sci. Vol. 1, No. 1, 65-70.

Kamau, J. N. (2001). Heavy metals distribution in sediments along the Kilindini and Makupa creeks, Kenya. Hydrobiologia, 458: 235–240.

Kulawik, P., Migdal, W., Gambus, F., Cieslik, E., Ozugul, F., Tkaczewska, J., et al. (2016). Microbiological and chemical safety concerns regarding frozen fillets obtained from Pangasius sutchi and Nile tilapia exported to European countries. J. Sci. Food Agric. 96 (4), 1373–1379.

Lalah, J. O., Ochieng, E. Z., & Wandiga, S. O. (2008). Sources of heavy metal input into Winam Guilf, Kenya. Bull of Environ Contam and Toxicol 81, 27-284.

Liu, C., Xu, J., Liu, C., Zhang, P., & Dai, M. (2009). Heavy metals in the surface sediments in Lanzhou reach of Yellow River, China. Bull of Environ Contam and Toxicol, 82, 26–30.

Maritim, P. K., Gachanja, A. N. & Munyao, T. M. (2016). Speciation of Trace Metals Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd in Surficial Sediment from Makupa Creek Mombasa, Coastal Kenya. Open Access Library Journal, 3: e2679. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1102679

McConchie, D. M., Mann, A. W., Lintern, M. J., Longman, D., Gabelish, A. J. & Gabelish, M. J. (1988). Heavy metals in marine biota, sediments and waters from the Shark bay area, Western Australia: J. Coast. Res. 4: 37–58.

Mdegela, R. H., Braathen, M., Pereka, A. E., Mosha, R. D., Sandvik, M. & Skaare, J. U. (2009). Heavy metals and organochlorine residues in water, sediments, and fish in aquatic ecosystems in urban and peri-urban areas in Tanzania. Water Air Soil Pollut. 203, 369–379.

Mitral, A., Mitra, S., Hazra, S. & Chaudhuri, A. (2000). Heavy metal concentrations in India coastal fishes. Res. J. Chem. Environ. 4 (4), 35–37.

Munyao, T. M. and Martim, P. K. (2013). Assessment of Trace Metals in Sediment and Water from Sabaki River Mouth, Kenya. International Journal of Current Research Vol. 5, Issue, 02, pp.001-006.

Muohi, A. W., Onyari J. M., Omondi J. G. & Mavuti K. M., (2005). Heavy metals distribution in surface sediments from
Mtwapa and Shirazi creeks, Kenya Coast. Bulletin Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 70, 1220 – 1227 .

Muohi, A. W., Onyari, J. M., Omodi, J. G. & Mavuti, K. M. (2003). Heavy Metals Distribution in Surface Sediments from Mtwapa and Shirazi Creeks, Kenya Coast. Bulletin of the Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 70, 1220-1227. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00128-003-0112-3 


Murthy, L. N., Mohan, C. O., Ravishankar, C. N. & Badonia, R. (2013). Biochemical quality and heavy metal content of fishmeal and squid meal produced in Veraval, Gujarat. Indian J. Fish. 60 (3), 113–117.

Mwashote, B. M. (2003). Assessment of levels of cadmium and lead in water, sediments and selected fish species in Mombasa, Kenya Mwashote. Western Indian Ocean J. Mar. Sci. Vol.2, No. 1, pp. 25-34.

Ober, G. A., Gonzalez, M. & Maria, I. S. (1987). Heavy metals in molluscan, crustacean and other commercially important Chilean marine coastal waters species. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 38: 534–539.

Ochieng, E. Z., Lalah, J. O. & Wandiga, S. O. (2007). Analysis of heavy metals in water and surface sediment in five Rift Valley Lakes in Kenya for assessment of recent increase in anthropogenic activities. Bull of Environ Contam and Toxicol, 79, 570–576.

Okuku, E. O. & Peter, H. K. (2012). Choose of heavy metals pollution biomonitors: a critic of the methnod that uses sediments total metals concentrations as the benchmark. Int. J. Environ. Res., 6(1): 313-322

Onyari, J. M. (1985). Determination of manganese, iron copper, zinc, cadmium and lead in fish species and sediments from Mombasa town and Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria. MSc Thesis, University of Nairobi, Kenya. 282 pp.

Oteko, D. (1987). Analysis of some major trace metals in the sediments of Gazi bay, Makupa, and Tudor creeks of the Kenyan coast: A comparative investigation into the anthropogenic input levels. MSc Thesis, Vrije Universiteit, Brussel. 190 pp.

Part, P., Svanberg, O. and Kiessling, A. (1985). The availability of cadmium to perfused rainbow trout gills in different water qualities. Water Research 19: 427–434.

Peng, S. H., Wang, W. X., Li, X. D. & Yen, Y. F. (2004). Metal Partitioning in River Sediments Measured by Sequen- taial Extraction and Biometic Approaches. Chemosphere, 57, 839-851. 


Prabhu Dass Batvari, B., Kamala-Kannan, S., Shanthi, K., Krishnamoorthy, R. & Jae Lee, Kui, Jayaprakash, M. (2008). Heavy metals in two fish species (Carangoidel malabaricus and Belone stronglurus) from Pulicat Lake, north of Chennai, Southeast Coast of India. Environ. Monit. Assess. 145, 167–175.


Prabhu Dass Batvari, B., Sivakumar, S., Shanthi, K., Lee, K. J., Oh, B. T., Krishnamoorthy, R. R., et al. (2012). Heavy metals accumulation in crab and shrimps from Pulicat Lake, north Chennai coastal regions, southeast coast of India. Toxicol. Ind. Health 1–6.

Ramirex, M., Serena, M., Frache, R. & Correa, J. (2005). Metal Speciation and Environmental Impact on Sandy Beaches Due to El Salvador Copper Mine, Chile. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 50, 62-72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2004.08.010 


Sankar, T. V. & Ashok Kumar, K. (2014). Food Safety with Special Reference to Seafood. In Panda, S. K., Hassan, Femeena, Sanjeev, S., Sankar, T.V. (Eds.), Practical Aspects of Sea- food Safety. CIFT, Kochi, India, pp. 1–4.

Sankar, T. V., Zynudheen, A. A., Anandan, R. & Viswanathan Nair, P. G. (2006). Distribution of organochlorine pesticides and heavy metal residues in fish and shellfish from Calicut region, Kerala, India. Chemosphere, 65, 583–590.

Singh, K. P., Mohan, D., Singh, V. K. & Malik, A. (2005). Studies on Distribution and Fractionation of Heavy Metals in Gomi River Sediments—A Tributary of Ganges. India Journal of Hydrology, 312, 14-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.01.021 


Sivaperumal, P., Sankar, T. V. & Viswanathan Nair, P. G. (2007). Heavy metal concentration in fish, shellfish and fish products from internal markets of India vis-a-vis international standards. Food Chem. 102, 612–620.

Usha, D. & Vikram Reddy, M. (2013). Heavy metal bioaccumulation in edible fish species from an industrially polluted river and human health risk assessment. Arch. Pol. Fish. 21, 19–27.

Uysal, K., Emre, Y. & Kose, E. (2008). The determination of heavy metal accumulation ratios in muscle, skin and gills of some migratory fish species by inductively coupled plas- ma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) in Beymelek
Lagoon (Antalya/Turkey). Microchem. J. 90, 67–70.

Velusamy, A., Satheeshkumar, P. & Ram, Anirudh, Chinnadurai, S. (2014). Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in commercially important marine fishes from Mumbai harbour, India. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 81, 218–224.

Verhaert, V., Covaci, A., Bouillon, S., Abrantes, K., Musibono, D., Bervoets, L., et al. (2013). Baseline levels and trophic transfer of persistent organic pollutants in sediments and biota from the Congo River Basin (DR Congo). Environ. Int. 59, 290–302.

Watling, H. R. (1983). Accumulation of seven metals by Crassostrea gigas, C. margaritacea, Perna perna and Chloromytilus meridionalis. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 30: 213–320.

Yuan, C., Shi, J., He, B., Liu, J., Liang, L. & Jiang, G. (2004). Speciation of Heavy Metals in Marine Sediments from East China Sea by ICP-MS with Seguential Extraction. Environment International, 30, 749-783. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2004.01.001 


Turki, J. A. (2007). Metal Speciation (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) in Sediments from Al Shabab Lagoon, Jeddah, South Arabia. JKAU: Marine Science, 18, 191-21