Heavy metals in mosquito larval habitats in urban Kisumu and Malindi, Kenya, and their impact
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Date
2008-05
Authors
Nyambaka, H. N.
Hassanali, Ahmed
Mbogo, Charles M.
Kahindi, Samuel
Beier, John C.
Keating, Joseph
Mireji, Paul O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf.
Abstract
Concentrations and distribution of cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese and zinc in
mosquito larval habitats in urban Kisumu and Malindi, Kenya and their effect on the presence of
Anopheles gambiae, Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles funestus larvae were
investigated. Manganese and iron were the most prevalent heavy metals in water of larval habitats
in urban Kisumu and Malindi, respectively. Iron was the most prevalent heavy metal in bottom
sediments in larval habitats in both cities. The highest concentrations of all heavy metals, except
cadmium and iron, were recorded in the poorly planned–well drained stratum in the two cities. All
heavy metals were more concentrated in human-made than in natural larval habitats. Copper was
positively associated with the presence of Ae. aegypti, and lead was associated with the presence of
An. gambiae and Ae. aegypti in urban Kisumu. Absence of significant correlation between the other
metals and mosquito species in both cities, despite relatively high concentrations, suggest that the
local larval populations, including key malaria vectors have adapted to the detected levels of these metals.
Description
doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2007.03.012.
Keywords
Heavy metals, Mosquitoes, Larval habitats, Human-made habitats, Natural habitats, Strata, Tolerance
Citation
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2008 May ; 70(1): 147–153. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2007.03.012.