Monitoring and Human Health Assessment of Trace Elements in Fresh and Dry Fish From Lake Kariba, Siavonga, Zambia
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950 South Africa
- 2Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, Johannesburg, 2050 South Africa
- 3School of Education, University of Witwatersrand, 27 St. Andrews Rd, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193 South Africa
- 4Integrated Water Resources Management Centre, School of Mines, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia
- 5Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita 9, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8589 Hokkaido Japan
Abstract
This study investigated the levels of trace elements in two fish species, Kariba bream (Oreochromis mortimeri) and Kapenta (Limnothrissa miodon) from Lake Kariba in two consecutive years, 2021 and 2022. Both Kariba Bream fresh/sun-dried muscle and sun-dried Kapenta tissues were digested using a microwave digestion system and analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Mean concentration of trace elements between the first and second sampling differed significantly (P > 0.05). In the first sampling, concentrations of trace elements in sun-dried bream occurred in the order Fe > Al > Cr > Zn > Mn > As while Se, Cu, Cd, Pb and Hg were not detected. Sun-dried Kapenta displayed Al > Fe > Zn > Mn > Cr > Cu > As > Se with Cd, Pb and Hg not detected. Fresh bream showed Fe > Al > Zn > Cr > Mn > Cu > Se, with Pb, As, Cd and Hg not detected. In the second sampling, the order was, Fe > Al > Zn > Cr > Mn > Se > Cu > As in sun-dried bream; Fe > Zn > Mn > Al > Cr > Cu > Se > As in sun-dried Kapenta with Cd, Pb and Hg not detected in both. Fresh bream showed; Fe > Al > Zn > Mn > Cr > Se > Cu > As > Pb with Cd and Hg not detected. Notably, the concentrations of Fe, Mn and Cr in some samples exceeded the recommended limits by FAO/WHO. The THQ and HI for some elements were above the threshold value of 1, indicating potential risk of non-carcinogenic to human health for long-term consumption. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into post-fish handling, including land-use activities in and around the lake.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-026-05263-7.
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BibTeX
@article{poopedi2026monitoring,
title = {{Monitoring and Human Health Assessment of Trace Elements in Fresh and Dry Fish From Lake Kariba, Siavonga, Zambia}},
author = {Phaphedi M Poopedi and Sinegugu Khulu and Kawawa Banda and Heidi Richards and Mokgaetji Monyai and Imasiku Nyambe and Yoshitaka Uchida and Luke Chimuka},
journal = {Biological Trace Element Research},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1007/s12011-026-05263-7},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-026-05263-7},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Monitoring and Human Health Assessment of Trace Elements in Fresh and Dry Fish From Lake Kariba, Siavonga, Zambia
AU - Phaphedi M Poopedi
AU - Sinegugu Khulu
AU - Kawawa Banda
AU - Heidi Richards
AU - Mokgaetji Monyai
AU - Imasiku Nyambe
AU - Yoshitaka Uchida
AU - Luke Chimuka
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/05
JO - Biological Trace Element Research
DO - 10.1007/s12011-026-05263-7
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-026-05263-7
AB - This study investigated the levels of trace elements in two fish species, Kariba bream (Oreochromis mortimeri) and Kapenta (Limnothrissa miodon) from Lake Kariba in two consecutive years, 2021 and 2022. Both Kariba Bream fresh/sun-dried muscle and sun-dried Kapenta tissues were digested using a microwave digestion system and analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Mean concentration of trace elements between the first and second sampling differed significantly (P > 0.05). In the first sampling, concentrations of trace elements in sun-dried bream occurred in the order Fe > Al > Cr > Zn > Mn > As while Se, Cu, Cd, Pb and Hg were not detected. Sun-dried Kapenta displayed Al > Fe > Zn > Mn > Cr > Cu > As > Se with Cd, Pb and Hg not detected. Fresh bream showed Fe > Al > Zn > Cr > Mn > Cu > Se, with Pb, As, Cd and Hg not detected. In the second sampling, the order was, Fe > Al > Zn > Cr > Mn > Se > Cu > As in sun-dried bream; Fe > Zn > Mn > Al > Cr > Cu > Se > As in sun-dried Kapenta with Cd, Pb and Hg not detected in both. Fresh bream showed; Fe > Al > Zn > Mn > Cr > Se > Cu > As > Pb with Cd and Hg not detected. Notably, the concentrations of Fe, Mn and Cr in some samples exceeded the recommended limits by FAO/WHO. The THQ and HI for some elements were above the threshold value of 1, indicating potential risk of non-carcinogenic to human health for long-term consumption. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into post-fish handling, including land-use activities in and around the lake. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-026-05263-7.
SN - 0163-4984
SN - 1559-0720
ER -