Bioaccumulation of lead in wildlife dependent on the contaminated environment of the kafue flats

In the Kafue flats, which cover an area of approximately 154,000 km super(2) in southern Zambia, levels of lead were measured in water, grass, fish, and Kafue lechwe Kobus leche kafuensis liver samples. In water samples from two study sites, Pb concentrations averaged 0.29 and 0.36 ppm, respectively, while the most commonly grazed grass exhibited an average Pb concentration of 26.0 ppm. In the fish species, Tilapia rendalli, Clarias gariepinus, and Brycinus lateralis, whole-body concentrations were 28.0, 23.0, and 33.0 ppm, respectively. In lechwe liver samples from the two study sites, Pb concentrations averaged 18.3 and 16.2 ppm, respectively. The water Pb levels were higher than the WHO recommended value of 0.01 ppm. Overall, wildlife in the region was found to be exposed to Pb levels that could cause adverse effects.