Government declares fish from Lake Nakuru as unfit for human consumption.
This is after studies from KEMFRI found presence of chemicals in the highly sought after meat.
Researchers warned of presence of toxic heavy metals found in fish within Lake Nakuru as residents swarm the lake with fishing nets and boats to fish following swelling of the lake.
The research was conducted following a mass fish kill that was reported at Lake Nakuru in January 2020.
Lake Nakuru, according to a recent study, currently has three newly introduced tilapia fish species that previously never existed.
Toxic metals
According to researchers, metals including Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Nickel, Mercury, Selenium, Cobalt, Copper and Zinc were reported as the most frequently occurring heavy metals in Lake Nakuru water with Molybdenum metal reported as exceeding the recommended standards.
“Toxic heavy metals were detected in all the fish samples. The levels of Chromium exceed the FAO limit of 0.14mg/l. The other toxic metals are of concern,” researchers noted.
Researchers blamed pollution of Lake Nakuru noting that over 65 percent of human waste ends up in the lake untreated, due to inefficient transport and treatment. Solid waste and storm water and drainage management is also limited.
“This is the reason that the lake is completely anoxic and cannot support life, particularly in the mid-lake and at depths below one meter from the surface,” the report on research noted.
