Electronic waste sites are rich in heavy metals contained in electronic and electric equipment waste and pose a risk of pollution if metals enter in the environment nearby. The Korle lagoon, located in the center of Accra, is receiving waste effluents from industries, households and the adjacent e-waste burning site Agbogbloshie which is the biggest in the country. Thus, the risk of heavy metal contamination of the water body and subsequent uptake in the aquatic food chain is particularly relevant. Small-scale fishing, not entering the commercial chain, occurs in the lagoon despite its consideration of biologically dead. We assessed if the exposure to heavy metals through these fish consumption is posing higher health risks than fish sold on Ghanaian markets. Using ICP-MS technology, we quantified concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn in fish caught from the Korle Lagoon (Trachinotus ovatus, Mugil curema and Mugil cephalus) and compared them to fish from the Tema Newtown fishing market (Scomber colias, Pseudotolithus senegallus). Cobalt and lead concentrations, typical e-waste metals, were higher in fish from the Korle lagoon, even though they were of lower trophic level. Calculated risk indices revealed risk of elevated arsenic and mercury exposure, particularly through T. ovatus from the Korle lagoon, if consumed daily as it is common in the region. This study suggests the need of monitoring programs of Ghanaian catch, with a special focus in environmental risk areas like Korle lagoon to ensure human food safety.

电子垃圾场的电子和电气设备废物中含有丰富的重金属，如果金属进入附近的环境，就有可能造成污染。位于阿克拉市中心的科尔勒泻湖正在接收来自工业、家庭和邻近的全国最大的电子垃圾焚烧场 Agbogbloshie 的废水。因此，重金属污染水体的风险以及随后在水生食物链中的吸收尤为重要。尽管考虑到生物死亡，但在泻湖中发生了不进入商业链的小规模捕鱼。我们评估了通过食用这些鱼类接触重金属是否比加纳市场上出售的鱼类造成的健康风险更高。使用 ICP-MS 技术，我们量化了 As、Cd、Co、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Trachinotus ovatus、Mugilcurema和Mugil cephalus）并将它们与 Tema Newtown 渔场的鱼（Scomber colias 、Pseudotolithus senegallus）进行了比较。钴和铅（典型的电子废物金属）在来自科尔勒泻湖的鱼中的浓度较高，尽管它们的营养水平较低。计算出的风险指数揭示了砷和汞暴露升高的风险，特别是通过来自科尔勒泻湖的T. ovatus ，如果每天食用，因为这在该地区很常见。这项研究表明需要监测加纳渔获量的计划，特别关注科勒泻湖等环境风险地区，以确保人类食品安全。