Author(s)

Florence Tohozin¹, Waris Kéwouyèmi Chouti^2,3*, Nafiou Chitou², Ringo Fernand Avahounlin¹, Carine Nelly Kélomè⁴, Vissin W. Expédit⁵

¹Chaire Internationale de Physique Mathématique et Applications (CIPMA CHAIRE-UNESCO, FAST, UAC), Cotonou, Benin.
²Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry and Environment (LAICE), Faculty of Science and Technology (FAST), University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
³Laboratory of Applied Hydrology (LAH), National Institute of Water (NIW), University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
⁴Département des Sciences de la Terre, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
⁵Institut de Géographie, de l’Aménagement du Territoire et de l’Environnement (IGATE, UAC), Abomey-Calavi, Benin.

The purpose of this study is to assess the state of contamination of fish in the Sô River by trace metal elements including Zinc, Lead, Cadmium, Copper and Arsenic. Water samples and four species of both sexes (Clarias anguillaris, Kribia kribensis, Tilapia guineensis and Eleotris vittata) were collected and analyzed. The pH, temperature and values of the chemical species present in the water of the Sô River characterize an ecosystem favorable to the growth of aquatic species. The Metallic Traces Elements (MTE) concentrations vary from one fish species to another and depend on the sex and age of the animal. Zinc and copper are more concentrated in males than females with the exception of copper in Tilapia. The Pb concentration is higher in young Kribia and Clarias as well as Zn and Cd in young Tilapia. The concentrations in Cd and Pb are well above the European standards and those in the Republic of Benin, worrying results that express a health toxicity risk related to the consumption of fish of the river Sô.

Health Toxicity Risk, Sô River, Metallic Traces Elements, Fish

Tohozin, F. , Chouti, W. , Chitou, N. , Avahounlin, R. , Kélomè, C. and Expédit, V. (2018) Assessment of the Risk of Toxicity of Fish in the River Sô by Contamination in Heavy Metals (Southern Benin, West Africa). Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 6, 202-215. doi: 10.4236/gep.2018.612017.