Evaluation of Heavy Metals Contamination Level (Mercury, Lead, Cadmium) in Fishery Products Exported From Senegal

Domestic, hospital and industrial wastes are major generators of heavy metals. These wastes added to those found in nature pollute the aquatic environment through the discharge. Heavy metals are toxic to living organisms. They accumulate in these beings. Humans get intoxicated by ingesting fish species contaminated by heavy metals. To evaluate the risk of intoxication of humans, it is proposed to determine the mercury, lead and cadmium content of fish and shellfish processed in Senegal. The contamination level of mercury content is determined by the DMA 80. The lead and cadmium content in the species is made by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The results obtained show that among the metals measured, lead has the highest content in all species. This is due to its abundance in the waste. Lead is more concentrated in species that live on the bottom. Large species concentrate high levels of mercury due to accumulation and biomagnification. Cadmium is the most concentrated in invertebrates, most of whose consumption consists of plants. The levels of all heavy metals measured in species do not exceed national and international standards. But as metals accumulate, monitoring is needed to limit poisoning.