Assessment of Physicochemical Parameters and Heavy Metals Contamination in Korle and Kpeshie Lagoons.
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University of Ghana
Abstract
Lagoons are highly productive coastal systems that provide natural services to the ecosystem,
however, their pollutions cause adverse changes to the natural environment. Korle and Kpeshie
Lagoons in Ghana, both receive wastes from industries and municipal sewage. Controlling and
monitoring of contaminants in these systems is very important to environmental protection. The
study examined the presence of heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead and
zinc) in sediments, crabs (Callinectes amnicola), and in fish (Sarotherodon melanotheron) at
Kpeshie and Korle Lagoons and compared the concentrations against the environmental
standards set by international organisations such as WHO and US EPA. The sediments of Korle
and Kpeshie lagoons showed traces of contamination in the order cadmium, lead, copper, zinc,
chromium and arsenic, the following metal concentrations in Sarotherodon melanotheron in
mgkg-1: As, 0.397 ± 0.07; Cd, 1.10 ± 1.31; Cr, 5.895 ± 9.76; Cu, 3.494 ± 4.56; Pb, 1.227 ± 5.77;
Zn, 23.225 ± 10.93, and in Callinectes amnicola : As, 0.288 ± 0.07 mgkg-1; Cd, 4.60 ± 2.69
mgkg-1; Cr, 39.521 ± 55.89 mgkg-1; Cu, 31.085 ± 16.26 mgkg-1; Pb, 10.902 ± 12.95 mgkg-1; Zn,
36.042 ± 17.8 mgkg-1. The pollution indices such as contamination factor (Cf), pollution load
index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (RI) calculated indicated that the sediments are
highly polluted with Cd and Pb. Cadmium, chromium and lead concentrations in Callinectes
amnicola, and Sarotherodon melanotheron exceeded the permissible limit by FAO/WHO. The
estimated target hazard quotient (THQ) of Cd, Cr, and Pb of fishery examined in Kpeshie
Lagoon resulted in less than 1, indicating that the daily consumption of Callinectes amnicola
and Sarotherodon melanotheron do not pose potential non-carcinogenic health risk to
individuals.
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MPhil.