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Contamination status of arsenic in fish and shellfish from three river basins in Ghana

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Abstract

Fish and shellfish are regularly consumed and sold in Ghana, yet studies on arsenic pollution in Ghana are limited largely to ground water. This study evaluated arsenic concentrations in seven species of shellfish and 10 species of fish inhabiting the mouth of Ankobra, Densu and Volta basins in Ghana and assessed the public health implications. Arsenic levels varied from 0.2 to 2.2 mg L−1 in the three rivers and were higher than WHO recommended values of 10 μg L−1 for drinking water. Except for Periophthalmus sp. and Tympanotonus fuscatus from the Ankobra in which arsenic was not detected, concentrations in the organisms ranged from 0.2 to 2.8 mg kg−1. The maximum quantities of the organisms considered safe for consumption ranged from 375 to 5250 g per week. Caution however needs to be exercised as PTWI for arsenic needs revision, and some heavy metals such as mercury are more toxic than arsenic.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the support received from Mr. Prince Agbanyo, DABCS, University of Ghana, during the fieldwork. The contributions of Mr. Prince Owusu of the Ecological Laboratory, University of Ghana, and the staff of the Nuclear Chemistry and Environment Research Centre, Ghana Atomic Energy Commissions, cannot go unnoticed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 67, Legon, Accra, Ghana

    Francis Gbogbo, Samuel Darlynton Otoo, Obed Asomaning & Robert Quaye Huago

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  1. Francis Gbogbo
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  2. Samuel Darlynton Otoo
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  3. Obed Asomaning
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  4. Robert Quaye Huago
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Correspondence to Francis Gbogbo.

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Gbogbo, F., Otoo, S.D., Asomaning, O. et al. Contamination status of arsenic in fish and shellfish from three river basins in Ghana. Environ Monit Assess 189, 400 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6118-9

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