Determination of the Level of Mercury Toxicity of Fish in Rivers Draining Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal; Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné; Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11

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Determination of the Level of Mercury Toxicity of Fish in Rivers Draining Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal, Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné, Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël

Published in International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 8, Issue 1)

Received: 21 December 2019 Accepted: 30 December 2019 Published: 9 January 2020

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Abstract

The specimens of the studied fish were taken from the same sites along the rivers during 4 Campaigns (August 2016, December 2016, August 2017 and December 2017). This study specifically aims to evaluate the level of mercury toxicity in fish from these rivers based on their total mercury content and the ratio between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg). Total selenium and total mercury were measured in fish by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The molar concentrations of total mercury were determined by dividing the total mercury concentrations obtained for each fish by its molar mass of about 200.59 g.mol^-1. Also, the total selenium molar concentrations were determined by dividing the total selenium contents obtained for each fish by its molar mass of order of 78.9 g.mol^-1. In addition, the ratios between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg) were calculated from the quotient between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury. The results found that all fish from the rivers of the Fizi gold panning sites studied had total mercury concentrations well above the fish quality standards (0.5 mg.Kg^-1). Silurus sp fish had the highest total mercury levels compared to other fish, followed respectively by Haplochromis sp and Oreochromis sp. However, it was found that all these species of fish studied do not pose a threat to human health because their molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg) are at least greater than 1. Oreochromis sp had the highest ratios of TSe: THg molar concentrations to other fish successively followed by fish Haplochromis sp and Silurus sp. It would be necessary to train gold miners in the territory of Fizi about the proper management of gold washing effluents.

Published in	International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 8, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11
Page(s)	1-10
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Gold Panning, Sites, Total Mercury Content, Fish, Fizi Territory, East, Democratic Republic of Congo

References

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Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal, Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné, Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël. (2020). Determination of the Level of Mercury Toxicity of Fish in Rivers Draining Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 8(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11

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ACS Style

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal; Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné; Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël. Determination of the Level of Mercury Toxicity of Fish in Rivers Draining Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2020, 8(1), 1-10. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11

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AMA Style

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal, Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné, Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël. Determination of the Level of Mercury Toxicity of Fish in Rivers Draining Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2020;8(1):1-10. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11,
  author = {Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal and Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné and Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël},
  title = {Determination of the Level of Mercury Toxicity of Fish in Rivers Draining Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
  volume = {8},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-10},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20200801.11},
  abstract = {The specimens of the studied fish were taken from the same sites along the rivers during 4 Campaigns (August 2016, December 2016, August 2017 and December 2017). This study specifically aims to evaluate the level of mercury toxicity in fish from these rivers based on their total mercury content and the ratio between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg). Total selenium and total mercury were measured in fish by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The molar concentrations of total mercury were determined by dividing the total mercury concentrations obtained for each fish by its molar mass of about 200.59 g.mol-1. Also, the total selenium molar concentrations were determined by dividing the total selenium contents obtained for each fish by its molar mass of order of 78.9 g.mol-1. In addition, the ratios between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg) were calculated from the quotient between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury. The results found that all fish from the rivers of the Fizi gold panning sites studied had total mercury concentrations well above the fish quality standards (0.5 mg.Kg-1). Silurus sp fish had the highest total mercury levels compared to other fish, followed respectively by Haplochromis sp and Oreochromis sp. However, it was found that all these species of fish studied do not pose a threat to human health because their molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg) are at least greater than 1. Oreochromis sp had the highest ratios of TSe: THg molar concentrations to other fish successively followed by fish Haplochromis sp and Silurus sp. It would be necessary to train gold miners in the territory of Fizi about the proper management of gold washing effluents.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Determination of the Level of Mercury Toxicity of Fish in Rivers Draining Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
AU  - Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal
AU  - Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné
AU  - Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël
Y1  - 2020/01/09
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
SP  - 1
EP  - 10
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7536
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11
AB  - The specimens of the studied fish were taken from the same sites along the rivers during 4 Campaigns (August 2016, December 2016, August 2017 and December 2017). This study specifically aims to evaluate the level of mercury toxicity in fish from these rivers based on their total mercury content and the ratio between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg). Total selenium and total mercury were measured in fish by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The molar concentrations of total mercury were determined by dividing the total mercury concentrations obtained for each fish by its molar mass of about 200.59 g.mol-1. Also, the total selenium molar concentrations were determined by dividing the total selenium contents obtained for each fish by its molar mass of order of 78.9 g.mol-1. In addition, the ratios between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg) were calculated from the quotient between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury. The results found that all fish from the rivers of the Fizi gold panning sites studied had total mercury concentrations well above the fish quality standards (0.5 mg.Kg-1). Silurus sp fish had the highest total mercury levels compared to other fish, followed respectively by Haplochromis sp and Oreochromis sp. However, it was found that all these species of fish studied do not pose a threat to human health because their molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg) are at least greater than 1. Oreochromis sp had the highest ratios of TSe: THg molar concentrations to other fish successively followed by fish Haplochromis sp and Silurus sp. It would be necessary to train gold miners in the territory of Fizi about the proper management of gold washing effluents.
VL  - 8
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal

Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Doctoral Cycle, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné

Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Doctoral Cycle, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël

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Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal, Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné, Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël. (2020). Determination of the Level of Mercury Toxicity of Fish in Rivers Draining Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 8(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11

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ACS Style

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal; Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné; Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël. Determination of the Level of Mercury Toxicity of Fish in Rivers Draining Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2020, 8(1), 1-10. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11

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AMA Style

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal, Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné, Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël. Determination of the Level of Mercury Toxicity of Fish in Rivers Draining Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2020;8(1):1-10. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11,
  author = {Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal and Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné and Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël},
  title = {Determination of the Level of Mercury Toxicity of Fish in Rivers Draining Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
  volume = {8},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-10},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20200801.11},
  abstract = {The specimens of the studied fish were taken from the same sites along the rivers during 4 Campaigns (August 2016, December 2016, August 2017 and December 2017). This study specifically aims to evaluate the level of mercury toxicity in fish from these rivers based on their total mercury content and the ratio between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg). Total selenium and total mercury were measured in fish by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The molar concentrations of total mercury were determined by dividing the total mercury concentrations obtained for each fish by its molar mass of about 200.59 g.mol-1. Also, the total selenium molar concentrations were determined by dividing the total selenium contents obtained for each fish by its molar mass of order of 78.9 g.mol-1. In addition, the ratios between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg) were calculated from the quotient between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury. The results found that all fish from the rivers of the Fizi gold panning sites studied had total mercury concentrations well above the fish quality standards (0.5 mg.Kg-1). Silurus sp fish had the highest total mercury levels compared to other fish, followed respectively by Haplochromis sp and Oreochromis sp. However, it was found that all these species of fish studied do not pose a threat to human health because their molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg) are at least greater than 1. Oreochromis sp had the highest ratios of TSe: THg molar concentrations to other fish successively followed by fish Haplochromis sp and Silurus sp. It would be necessary to train gold miners in the territory of Fizi about the proper management of gold washing effluents.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Determination of the Level of Mercury Toxicity of Fish in Rivers Draining Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
AU  - Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal
AU  - Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné
AU  - Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël
Y1  - 2020/01/09
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
SP  - 1
EP  - 10
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7536
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20200801.11
AB  - The specimens of the studied fish were taken from the same sites along the rivers during 4 Campaigns (August 2016, December 2016, August 2017 and December 2017). This study specifically aims to evaluate the level of mercury toxicity in fish from these rivers based on their total mercury content and the ratio between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg). Total selenium and total mercury were measured in fish by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The molar concentrations of total mercury were determined by dividing the total mercury concentrations obtained for each fish by its molar mass of about 200.59 g.mol-1. Also, the total selenium molar concentrations were determined by dividing the total selenium contents obtained for each fish by its molar mass of order of 78.9 g.mol-1. In addition, the ratios between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg) were calculated from the quotient between the molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury. The results found that all fish from the rivers of the Fizi gold panning sites studied had total mercury concentrations well above the fish quality standards (0.5 mg.Kg-1). Silurus sp fish had the highest total mercury levels compared to other fish, followed respectively by Haplochromis sp and Oreochromis sp. However, it was found that all these species of fish studied do not pose a threat to human health because their molar concentrations of total selenium and total mercury (TSe: THg) are at least greater than 1. Oreochromis sp had the highest ratios of TSe: THg molar concentrations to other fish successively followed by fish Haplochromis sp and Silurus sp. It would be necessary to train gold miners in the territory of Fizi about the proper management of gold washing effluents.
VL  - 8
IS  - 1
ER  -

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