Accumulation characteristics and ecological implications of heavy metals in surface sediments of the Mwanza Gulf, Lake Victoria.
Environ Monit Assess
; 194(10): 756, 2022 Sep 09.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36083391
ABSTRACT
The distribution of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn and their fraction characteristics (except Hg) were investigated in surface sediments of the Mwanza Gulf, Lake Victoria. The ecological risks, bioavailability, and mobility of the metals were also evaluated by using enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (Cf), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), potential ecological risk index (RI), risk assessment code (RAC), individual contamination factor (ICF), and global contamination factor (GCF). Results showed that there were moderate accumulations of heavy metals in sediments from the southern part of the gulf. The mean Cf of heavy metals ranged from 1.19 (Ni) to 2.85 (Hg) suggesting moderate contamination of heavy metals in the sediments while Igeo results showed that the sediments are mainly contaminated by As, Cr, and Hg. The average potential ecological risk of heavy metals in sediments of the Mwanza Gulf is at moderate level (RI 205.49). Hg and Cd posed considerable or moderated risks with mean ecological risk of 114.18 and 44.16, which accounted for 51.08% and 21.54% of the total RI, respectively. High bioavailability and mobility of heavy metals were found in sediments near Mwanza city, particularly Zn and Cd, of which the bioavailability risks were at medium to high levels. Given the biological and environmental importance of the Mwanza Gulf and Lake Victoria, emission paths and bioaccumulation of heavy metals through food webs should be studied carefully to ensure the safety of food and the health and well-being of humans.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Contaminantes Químicos del Agua
/
Metales Pesados
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Mercurio
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Humans
País como asunto:
Africa
/
Asia
Idioma:
En
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article