Author(s)

Pehegninon Junior Ophelie Djade^1*, Abou Traore¹, Yiwa Monique Kamenan², Kéiba Noel Keumean¹

¹Laboratory of Soil, Water, and Geomaterials Sciences (LSWGS), Faculty of Earth Sciences and Mining Resources, Félix Houphouët Boigny University of Cocody, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
²Laboratory of Environmental Science and Technology, Department of Earth Sciences, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.

Gold panning is a growing activity in the Zouan-Hounien department, and it has a significant impact on surface water resources. This study aims to determine the concentration of certain trace elements in Clarias nigrodigitatus muscles and assess the associated health risks to local populations. Mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, and iron concentrations in fish muscles complied with the FAO/WHO guide values recommended for consumption. The bioconcentration factors calculated for mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and iron relative to sediments are less than one (BCF/sediments < 1) and greater than one relative to water (FBC/water > 1), indicating that fish concentrate trace elements in their muscles from the water. Additionally, the health risk assessment conducted on children and adults revealed hazard quotient (HQ) values below one (HQ < 1). This indicates that the population is not likely to develop non-carcinogenic diseases. Therefore, the estimated cancer risk values for adults and children are within the acceptable range for arsenic and cadmium (10⁻⁶ ≤ CR < 10⁻⁴) and not significant for lead (CR < 10⁻⁶).

Gold Panning, Clarias nigrodigitatus, Trace Metal Elements (TME), Health Risk, Cavally River

Djade, P.J.O., Traore, A., Kamenan, Y.M. and Keumean, K.N. (2025) Trace Metal Concentrations (Hg, Pb, As, Cd, Fe) in Fish Muscles from the Cavally River Impacted by Gold Panning in the Zouan-Hounien Department (Western Côte D’Ivoire). Journal of Environmental Protection, 16, 1141-1154. doi: 10.4236/jep.2025.1611061.