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Sources and Distribution of Mercury Residues in Environmental and Food Matrices of the Mekrou River Watershed in Kèrou, Kouandé and Péhunco in Republic of Benin

Received: 28 March 2018     Accepted: 17 April 2018     Published: 8 May 2018
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Abstract

Environmental scientific research has been largely developed for about a century, and many disciplines have been interested in interactions and the role of hazardous chemical elements such as metallic mercury and its inorganic and organic compounds in the environment. This study aims to assess the mercury contamination level of some foodstuffs (water, milk) and of the terrestrial and aquatic environment (fodder, agricultural soil and sediments) in the municipalities of 2KP. Total mercury (T-Hg) has been determined by DMA-80 (Direct Mercury Analyzer) in different environmental and food matrices of the Mekrou river watershed in Kèrou, Kouandé and Péhunco (2KP municipalities). The mercury content is higher in the superficial horizon of agricultural soil (0-20 cm) than in the horizon (20-40 cm). Watercourses (Mekrou River and its tributaries) have relatively low levels of Hg (0.5 to 1.3 μg/L) in water compared with ponds and dams (181.2 to 616.9 μg/L). Conversely, ponds and dams are characterized by low levels of mercury in water and relatively higher levels in sediments. Concentrations of Hg in cow's milk and cattle feed varied respectively in the concentration ranges of (0.4 to 8.7 μg/L) and (7.1 to 15.7 μg/kg). Regarding plant material, the highest concentrations of mercury (15.7 μg/kg) are obtained in the okra leaves (Abelmsehus eseuilleus (L.) Moench) used in the human diet, compared to cattle fodder. This work reveals agriculture as the leading source of mercury ecosystem contamination, followed by Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Exploitation (ASSGE) and hospital sources in 2KP municipalities.

Published in American Journal of Applied Chemistry (Volume 6, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajac.20180602.14
Page(s) 57-63
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), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

DMA-80, Pollution with Hg, Anthropogenic Sources, Kérou, Kouandé, Péhunco

References
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[2] United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Global Mercury Assessment 2013. Sources, Emissions, Releases and Environmental Transport. UNEP. Chemicals Branch 2013, Geneva, Switzerland, 32 p.
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[4] Chasar Lia, C.; Scudder Barbara, C.; Stewart Robin, A.; Bell Amanda, H.; And Aiken George, R., Mercury Cycling in Stream Ecosystems, 3, Trophic Dynamics and Methylmercury Bioaccumulation. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2009, Vol. 43, 2733–2739.
[5] Oursel, B., Transferts et dynamique des contaminants métalliques en zone côtière. Impact d’une grande agglomération méditerranéenne. 2013, Thèse de doctorale de l’Université de Toulon.
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[12] Amin-Zaki, L.; Elhassani, S.; Majeed, M. A.; Clarkson, T. W.; Doherty, R. A.;Greenwood M., Intrauterine methylmercury poisoning in Iraq. Journal Pediatr1974, Vol.54, No. 5, 587-595.
[13] AFSSA (2002), Saisine n 2002-SA-0014 relatif à l’évaluation des risques sanitaires liés à l’exposition au mercure des femmes enceintes allaitantes et des jeunes enfants.
[14] Kanda, M.; Boundjou, G. D.; Wala, K.; Gnandi, K.; Batawila, K. ; Sanni, A.; et Akpagana, K., Application des pesticides en agriculture maraichère au Togo. Journal VertigO - revue électronique en sciences de l'environnement [En ligne] 2013, Vol. 13 No. 1 | avril 2013, mis en ligne le 16 avril 2013. URL: http://vertigo.revues.org/13456 ; 332 DOI : 10.4000/vertigo.13456
[15] Adechian Akinhola, S.; Baco, M. N.; Akponikpe, I., Les pratiques paysannes de gestion des pesticides sur lemaïs et le coton dans le bassin cotonnier du Bénin. Journal VertigO- revue électronique en sciences de l'environnement [En ligne] 2015, Vol. 15, No. 2, 13p.
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[18] Murat, Y.; Aykut Y.; and Fatma S., Heavy Metal Accumulation In the Leaves, Stem and Root of the Invasive Submerged Macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum L. (Haloragaceae): An Example of Kadın Creek (Mugla, Turkey). Journal of Braz. Arch. Biol. Techno. 2014, Vol. 57, No. 3, 434-440, May-June 2014 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-8913201401962
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[20] Ugbidye, S.; Eneji, I. S.; and Sha’ato R., Determination of Mercury Level in Rana esculenta (Frog), Sediment and Water from River Guma, Benue State Nigeria. Journal of Environment and Earth Science2013, ISSN 2224-3216 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0948 (Online) Vol. 3, No. 12.
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    Alassane Youssao Abdou Karim, Mahamadou Daouda, Abdoul Kader Alassane Moussa, Daouda Mama, Issaka Youssao Abdou Karim. (2018). Sources and Distribution of Mercury Residues in Environmental and Food Matrices of the Mekrou River Watershed in Kèrou, Kouandé and Péhunco in Republic of Benin. American Journal of Applied Chemistry, 6(2), 57-63. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajac.20180602.14

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    ACS Style

    Alassane Youssao Abdou Karim; Mahamadou Daouda; Abdoul Kader Alassane Moussa; Daouda Mama; Issaka Youssao Abdou Karim. Sources and Distribution of Mercury Residues in Environmental and Food Matrices of the Mekrou River Watershed in Kèrou, Kouandé and Péhunco in Republic of Benin. Am. J. Appl. Chem. 2018, 6(2), 57-63. doi: 10.11648/j.ajac.20180602.14

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    AMA Style

    Alassane Youssao Abdou Karim, Mahamadou Daouda, Abdoul Kader Alassane Moussa, Daouda Mama, Issaka Youssao Abdou Karim. Sources and Distribution of Mercury Residues in Environmental and Food Matrices of the Mekrou River Watershed in Kèrou, Kouandé and Péhunco in Republic of Benin. Am J Appl Chem. 2018;6(2):57-63. doi: 10.11648/j.ajac.20180602.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajac.20180602.14,
      author = {Alassane Youssao Abdou Karim and Mahamadou Daouda and Abdoul Kader Alassane Moussa and Daouda Mama and Issaka Youssao Abdou Karim},
      title = {Sources and Distribution of Mercury Residues in Environmental and Food Matrices of the Mekrou River Watershed in Kèrou, Kouandé and Péhunco in Republic of Benin},
      journal = {American Journal of Applied Chemistry},
      volume = {6},
      number = {2},
      pages = {57-63},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajac.20180602.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajac.20180602.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajac.20180602.14},
      abstract = {Environmental scientific research has been largely developed for about a century, and many disciplines have been interested in interactions and the role of hazardous chemical elements such as metallic mercury and its inorganic and organic compounds in the environment. This study aims to assess the mercury contamination level of some foodstuffs (water, milk) and of the terrestrial and aquatic environment (fodder, agricultural soil and sediments) in the municipalities of 2KP. Total mercury (T-Hg) has been determined by DMA-80 (Direct Mercury Analyzer) in different environmental and food matrices of the Mekrou river watershed in Kèrou, Kouandé and Péhunco (2KP municipalities). The mercury content is higher in the superficial horizon of agricultural soil (0-20 cm) than in the horizon (20-40 cm). Watercourses (Mekrou River and its tributaries) have relatively low levels of Hg (0.5 to 1.3 μg/L) in water compared with ponds and dams (181.2 to 616.9 μg/L). Conversely, ponds and dams are characterized by low levels of mercury in water and relatively higher levels in sediments. Concentrations of Hg in cow's milk and cattle feed varied respectively in the concentration ranges of (0.4 to 8.7 μg/L) and (7.1 to 15.7 μg/kg). Regarding plant material, the highest concentrations of mercury (15.7 μg/kg) are obtained in the okra leaves (Abelmsehus eseuilleus (L.) Moench) used in the human diet, compared to cattle fodder. This work reveals agriculture as the leading source of mercury ecosystem contamination, followed by Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Exploitation (ASSGE) and hospital sources in 2KP municipalities.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Sources and Distribution of Mercury Residues in Environmental and Food Matrices of the Mekrou River Watershed in Kèrou, Kouandé and Péhunco in Republic of Benin
    AU  - Alassane Youssao Abdou Karim
    AU  - Mahamadou Daouda
    AU  - Abdoul Kader Alassane Moussa
    AU  - Daouda Mama
    AU  - Issaka Youssao Abdou Karim
    Y1  - 2018/05/08
    PY  - 2018
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajac.20180602.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajac.20180602.14
    T2  - American Journal of Applied Chemistry
    JF  - American Journal of Applied Chemistry
    JO  - American Journal of Applied Chemistry
    SP  - 57
    EP  - 63
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8745
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajac.20180602.14
    AB  - Environmental scientific research has been largely developed for about a century, and many disciplines have been interested in interactions and the role of hazardous chemical elements such as metallic mercury and its inorganic and organic compounds in the environment. This study aims to assess the mercury contamination level of some foodstuffs (water, milk) and of the terrestrial and aquatic environment (fodder, agricultural soil and sediments) in the municipalities of 2KP. Total mercury (T-Hg) has been determined by DMA-80 (Direct Mercury Analyzer) in different environmental and food matrices of the Mekrou river watershed in Kèrou, Kouandé and Péhunco (2KP municipalities). The mercury content is higher in the superficial horizon of agricultural soil (0-20 cm) than in the horizon (20-40 cm). Watercourses (Mekrou River and its tributaries) have relatively low levels of Hg (0.5 to 1.3 μg/L) in water compared with ponds and dams (181.2 to 616.9 μg/L). Conversely, ponds and dams are characterized by low levels of mercury in water and relatively higher levels in sediments. Concentrations of Hg in cow's milk and cattle feed varied respectively in the concentration ranges of (0.4 to 8.7 μg/L) and (7.1 to 15.7 μg/kg). Regarding plant material, the highest concentrations of mercury (15.7 μg/kg) are obtained in the okra leaves (Abelmsehus eseuilleus (L.) Moench) used in the human diet, compared to cattle fodder. This work reveals agriculture as the leading source of mercury ecosystem contamination, followed by Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Exploitation (ASSGE) and hospital sources in 2KP municipalities.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Chemical Engineering-Processes, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey, Calavi, Bénin

  • Department of Animal Feed and Nutrition, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey, Calavi, Bénin

  • Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, University of Abomey, Calavi, Benin

  • Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, University of Abomey, Calavi, Benin

  • Department of Animal Production and Heath, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey, Calavi, Benin

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