Abstract
The concentration of mercury in the tissues of the clam, Galatea paradoxa at in the Volta estuary, Ghana, were analysed over an 18-month period, from March 2008 to August 2009. The concentrations were well below the International Human Consumption Advisory Limit of THg (0.5 μg/g wet weight). The concentrations in the tissues of the different clam size classes were between 6 and 18 times lower than the WHO Safety Reference Standard. Variation in the mean mercury concentration in the different clam size classes was not significant (p > 0.05) for clams from Aveglo but were highly significant (p < 0.0001) for clams from Ada, indicating a possible effect of size on accumulation. G. paradoxa is therefore suitable for human consumption based on the WHO Safety Reference Standards.
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Acknowledgment
The authors are grateful to the International Foundation for Science (IFS) for providing financial support (A/4421-1) to conduct this research work and the Department of Fisheries and Watershed Management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi for logistical support.
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Obirikorang, K.A., Amisah, S., Adjei-Boateng, D. et al. Mercury Accumulation in the Clam, Galatea paradoxa (Born 1778) at the Volta Estuary, Ghana. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 85, 497–501 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-010-0125-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-010-0125-7