ABSTRACT

In order to fill its fish deficit, Benin imports more than 45,000 tons of frozen fish each year. According to some authors, this dependence on fish products imports could be a great threat to food security. The objective of this study is to assess the level of heavy metal contamination of frozen fish species consumed by Beninese populations. Heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, copper and zinc were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in fresh, fried and cooked fish. Results showed that cadmium levels in fresh fish ranged from 0 to 0.004 mg / kg, lead 0 to 0.008 mg / kg, copper 0 to 0.31 mg / kg and zinc from 0.1205 to 0.2785 mg / kg. In the same species of cooked fish, cadmium concentrations ranged from 0.003 to 0.006 mg / kg, lead from 0 to 0.0165 mg / kg, copper from 0 to 0.033 mg / kg and zinc from 0.159 to 0, 33 mg / kg. In the same fried fish species, cadmium concentrations ranged from 0.0035 to 0.009 mg / kg, lead from 0 to 0.0025 mg / kg, copper from 0.0065 to 0.058 mg / kg and zinc from 0.109 to 0.222 mg / kg). The levels of heavy metals are all below the standards accepted by FAO / WHO. The consumption of these fish would therefore have no negative effect on the population’s health. Depending on the two cooking methods, there is a reduction of heavy metal concentrations in some fish species. Although the concentrations of heavy metals are not worrying, populations must be careful and must vary their diets to guarantee a better health. Keywords: Heavy metals, imported frozen fish, Cotonou, Benin
Publication date: 01/07/21

https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2021/July/MS_IJBPAS_2020_5108.pdf

Download PDF
https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2021/10.7.5108