This survey carried out from September 2009 to September 2013 at Maluku, upstream Kinshasa city at the entrance of the Malebo Pool (Congo River, Kinshasa, DR Congo) on three common fish species selected according to their food-chain position. We focused on the contamination in Lead and cadmium of Distichodus fasciolatus (herbivore), Mormyrops anguilloides (carnivore) and Schilbe mistus (carnivore)(Pisces). We analysed fish heads and flesh according to their size (juveniles and adults). Results revealed that Schilbe mistus was the most contaminated and Distichodus fasciolatus the least contaminated. Adults were more contaminated than juveniles, and heads than flesh. Compared to previous study at Kinsuka, we are proud to conclude that the Congo River ecosystem at Maluku is safe and fish can be eaten without any fear as contaminations are lower than WHO standards. However, the herbivorous species appeared less contaminated than the secondary and the tertiary species (carnivores and omnivores, respectively).
This paper reports the results of food-chain contamination by the cadmium and the lead, two common heavy metals in the Malebo Pool (Kinshasa) at Kinsuka outlet downstream the Congo River. The herbivorous species showed lower contamination than carnivores and omnivores, i.e. Distichodus fasciolatus < Mormyrops anguilloides < Schilbe mistus From each fish sample, heads were more contaminated than in the other edible parts. This allowed us to forbide the consumption of the heads of fish from unkown origins.
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