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Potential health risks from contaminated fish in Lake Victoria: A 25-year systematic review of pollutants and management challenges
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Mercury concentrations in Lake Victoria fish ranged from 3.4 ng/g to 335,000 ng/g dry weight, frequently exceeding international safety limits, with Nile perch liver tissue accumulating the highest contaminant loads. Detected pollutants also included organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, PFAS, and microplastics, all linked to neurotoxicity, carcinogenicity, and endocrine disruption risks.
Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater lake in East Africa, sustaining the livelihoods of over 40 million people. However, its fisheries face increasing threats from contamination by potentially toxic elements (heavy metals), persistent organic pollutants, and emerging contaminants. This systematic review integrates 25 years (2000-2025) of research, analyzing primary studies on fish contamination across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. The review assessed the occurrence, bioaccumulation, and toxicology of pollutants, as well as their health implications and management strategies. Mercury was the dominant pollutant of concern, with concentrations ranging from 3.4 ng/g wet weight in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to very high values of 335,000 ng/g dry weight in silver fish from mining regions, exceeding international safety limits. Other detected contaminants included organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, endosulfan, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and microplastics. Bioaccumulation patterns revealed higher contaminant loads in the liver tissues of all fish, particularly in Nile perch (Lates niloticus). The health risks associated with these pollutants include neurotoxicity, carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption, and ecosystem-level impacts. However, significant knowledge gaps remain for newer pollutants, including pharmaceutical and personal care products, plasticizers, and modern pesticides, which have not been assessed in Lake Victoria fish. Furthermore, spatial coverage is uneven, with most islands and some inshore fishing zones lacking data. This review presents the first comprehensive synthesis of fish contamination data in Lake Victoria, providing a foundation for future scientific research, policy, and transboundary management, while also offering a transferable framework for addressing similar pollution challenges in tropical inland waters globally.
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Microplastics (MPs) and Nanoplastics (NPs) in Lake Victoria: A Systematic Review of Contamination Pathways, Trophic Transfer, and Health Implications in the Context of Emerging Contaminants.
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This review pulls together existing research on tiny plastic particles found in Lake Victoria, a major freshwater source in East Africa, tracing how they move from water into fish and other wildlife. It matters because these particles could eventually make their way into people's food and water, though the review focuses on organizing what's already known rather than proving new health effects.
Microplastics (MPs) and Nanoplastics (NPs) in Lake Victoria: A Systematic Review of Contamination Pathways, Trophic Transfer, and Health Implications in the Context of Emerging Contaminants.
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Scientists reviewed existing studies on tiny plastic particles polluting Lake Victoria, a major freshwater source in East Africa, tracing how they move from water into fish and other wildlife. While this review doesn't test new samples, it highlights growing concern that these plastics could work their way up the food chain to people who eat fish or drink the water, though more research is needed to confirm actual health risks.
Levels and Classification of Microplastics and Their Impact on the Wellbeing of Selected Commercially Important Fish Species in Kisumu Bay, Lake Victoria
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A study in Kenya's Lake Victoria found microplastics in the digestive tracts of 65% of fish sampled across four commercially important species, including Nile perch and tilapia. Given that these species are important sources of dietary protein for millions of people in East Africa, the findings raise direct human health concerns about plastic ingestion through fish consumption and call for stronger environmental protections in African freshwater systems.
Intrusion of Mercury and Micro Plastics in the Aquatic Food Chain Its Effects on Fish Consumption Risks, Realities, and Policy Implications
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This review examines how mercury and microplastics contaminate aquatic food chains, focusing on biomagnification of mercury across trophic levels and the ingestion and tissue accumulation of microplastics by fish. It discusses food safety risks for human consumers and policy implications for managing co-occurring aquatic pollutants.
Microplastics in Inland African Waters: Presence, Sources, and Fate
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Researchers reviewed what is known about microplastic pollution in Africa's inland waters, including the massive Great Lakes system and major rivers like the Congo and Nile, and found a striking lack of research data. The limited studies available, including one from Lake Victoria, confirm microplastics are present in fish guts, underscoring the urgent need for expanded monitoring across this understudied region.
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