Koleleni, Yusuf I. A.; Haji, Othman O.
Description:
Seafood is the major source of food for a large number of people residing in the coastal areas of
Zanzibar. It has been reported that the seafood are a connecting link for the transfer of toxic heavy
metals in human beings. The present study assessed the metal concentration upon sample species of
fish along the coast Sea Port of Zanzibar. Fish samples (namely changu, sardine, baracout and tuna
fish) were the ideal species for the assessment study on effects of heavy metal contamination in aquatic
organisms. They were collected at the Sea Port and the concentrations of the assessed metals were
determined using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF). Concentrations of Fe, Pb, Cr, Ni,
As, Cu and Zn were found to be higher in sardine whilst Hg was found to be higher in changu specie.
Concentrations of Cd and Mn were found to be below the detection limits in all sample species but
higher in mussels. Whereas Hg was only detected in changu species. Comparing the data from this
study to data from other studies in other regions, the concentrations of Fe, Cr and As in different
species of fishes collected was quite higher than the values reported in the literature. The results of
this study indicated that As, Hg and Cr were higher in fish than WHO/FAO (2004).