The Effects of Environmental Lead Pollution in Kisumu, Mwanza and Kampala

ABSTRACT

In this paper, a study was conducted to determine lead contamination levels in the environment (soil and water) and foods. The foods targeted were maize, beans and fish which are among the major staple foods common to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Water, food and soil samples were taken in 2007 and 2009. The study sites were located in Kisumu (Kenya), Mwanza (Tanzania), and Kampala (Uganda). From the results of 2009, the mean lead content in tap water, was within the WHO maximum safe limits of 1.0 µg/100 ml for all the samples from the three cities. For all water samples obtained from similar sources from the three cities, the lead content during 2007 was significantly higher than that of 2009. For the soil samples from Kisumu and Kampala the lead content in the 2009 samples was significantly lower (p< 0.05) than that of samples from similar sources during 2007, indicating a decreasing trend of lead pollution in soil in the two cities. In 2009 in all the three cities, the mean lead content in all the maize and bean samples was below the WHO maximum limits of 20.0 µg/100 g. For the maize the lead content in 2009 was significantly lower (p< 0.05) than that of 2007. The mean lead content in all the fish samples was below the WHO maximum limits of 20.0 µ g in 2009. For all similar fish samples from the three cities, the lead content in the samples of 2009 was significantly lower than that of the samples of 2007. The results indicate that for all the samples of food, tap water and soil from the three cities, the lead content was within the WHO maximum levels in 2009, and showed a decreasing trend from 2007 to 2009.