Author(s)

Kamilou Ouro-Sama^1*, Komlan Mawuli Afiademanyo², Hodabalo Dheoulaba Solitoke¹, Gnon Tanouayi¹, Tchaa Esso-Essinam Badassan¹, Koudjo Adje¹, Koudjo Adje¹, Sadikou Agbere¹, Kissao Gnandi¹

¹Laboratoire de Gestion, Traitement et Valorisation des Déchets, Département de Géologie et Environnement, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo.
²Laboratoire d’Ecologie Animale et d’Ecotoxicologie, Département de Zoologie et Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo.

The omnivorous fish species, C. nigrodigitatus feeds mainly on benthic organisms and may therefore consume contaminated food throughout its food web. This can lead to the bioaccumulation of contaminants such as trace elements in their tissues. However, fish consumption is a major pathway of human exposure to contaminants which may cause public health problems. The aim of the present study is to assess trace elements contamination in some species from the food web of C. nigrodigitatus. For this, 10 main food items of the silver catfish were collected at two sites from February to July 2017 and analyzed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer coupled with a hydride and cold vapour generator. The concentrations of trace elements varied greatly from one species to another and within each species. These values ranged from 0.007 mg/kg for Hg in C hippos to 354.84 mg/kg for Mn in P. fusca. The most contaminated species by trace elements were benthic organisms: M. perna (Cd, Pb, Hg), Pagurus sp. (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn), G. paradoxa (As) and P. fusca (Mn). The average concentrations of trace elements found in species were, for the most part, above WHO standards except Hg in M. perna and G. paradoxa. The water-based bioconcentration factors (BCFw) reach 92.58 for Cd, 44.72 for Pb, 382.49 for Hg and 1514.34 for As in M. perna. It is therefore necessary to pay particular attention to this ecosystem and to put in place a better management plan.

C. nigrodigitatus Preys, Trace Elements, Contamination, Lake Togo, Aného Lagoon

Ouro-Sama, K. , Afiademanyo, K. , Solitoke, H. , Tanouayi, G. , Badassan, T. , Adje, K. , Adje, K. , Agbere, S. and Gnandi, K. (2021) Trace Elements in Mollusks, Crustaceans and Fish Commonly Consumed by the Catfish Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus Lacépède, 1803 from the Lake Togo-Lagoon of Aného Hydrosystem (Southern Togo). Journal of Environmental Protection, 12, 1185-1203. doi: 10.4236/jep.2021.1212070.