November 9, 2024

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How water pollution impacts on fish contamination

Dr Apolinaire William, Agricultural Landscape Researcher, pointed out that erosion continues to contribute to the pollution of river water and that it ends up with the contamination of fish.

Addressing the Rwanda Environmental Journalists recently, Dr William revealed that the problem of polluted water going into rivers is serious because it affects aquatic life, especially fish.

“The Akagera River that carries water to the Nile is polluted. Research has shown that industrial practices and agricultural products (pesticides and fertilizers) play a big role. Due to soil erosion, chemicals used in agriculture end up in rivers and lakes, causing fish to become contaminated and impact on people’s life. That’s why measures should be taken to maintain the soil and use fertilizers properly”, he said.

This researcher said that although measures have been put in place to fight erosion, which include agroforestry practices, they have not yet yielded enough, so it is necessary to find ways to reduce the amount of waste that goes into the water, especially the fertilizers used in agriculture.

The demand for quickly-produced high volumes of food paved the way for the use of harmful pesticides. Pesticides that enter the waterway can also harm or kill fish.

Many fish species live in contaminated waters and their bodies may contain chemical contaminants that can be toxic to people. Eating contaminated fish for a long time can increase the risk of illness for adults, but may be especially risky for children because their bodies are still developing.

Depending on the type and amount of contaminants, long-term exposure from eating some types of fish can increase the risk of illness, developmental issues, or, in some cases, cancer.

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