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Recent Submissions
Increasing Trends of Legacy and Emerging Organic Contaminants in a Dated Sediment Core From East-Africa
(Frontiers in environmental science, 2022) Nipen, Maja; Vogt, Rolf D.; Bohlin-Nizzetto, Pernilla; Borgå, Katrine; Mwakalapa, Eliezer B.; Borgen, Anders R.; Schlabach, Martin; Christensen, Guttorm; Mmochi, Aviti J.; Breivik, Knut
Temporal trends of industrial organic contaminants can show how environmental burdens
respond to changes in production, regulation, and other anthropogenic and environmental
factors. Numerous studies have documented such trends from the Northern Hemisphere,
while there is very limited data in the literature from sub-Saharan Africa. We hypothesized
that the temporal trends of legacy and contemporary industrial contaminants in sub-
Saharan Africa could greatly differ from the regions in which many of these chemicals were
initially produced and more extensively used. For this purpose, a dated sediment core
covering six decades from a floodplain system in urban Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was
analysed. The samples were analysed for selected legacy persistent organic pollutants
(POPs) [polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs)]
and chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) [alternative brominated flame retardants
(aBFRs), chlorinated paraffins (CPs), and dechloranes]. All groups of chemicals showed
a steep increase in concentrations towards the uppermost sediment layers reflecting the
more recent years. Concentrations of the individual compound groups in surface sediment
were found in the order CPs >> aBFRs ∼ ∑25PBDEs > dechloranes ∼ ∑32PCBs. Time
trends for the individual compounds and compound groups differed, with ∑32PCBs
showing presence in sediments since at least the early 1960s, while some CECs first
occurred in sediments corresponding to the last decade. Investigations into potential
drivers for the observed trends showed that socioeconomic factors related to growth in
population, economy, and waste generation have contributed to increasing
concentrations of PBDEs, aBFRs, CPs, and Dechlorane Plus. Further monitoring of
temporal trends of industrial organic contaminants in urban areas in the Global South
is recommended.
Ethnobotanical Survey of Plants Used in ihe Maasai Food System and Traditional Medicine Against Gout and Associated Conditions in Monduli-Tanzania
(Taylor & Francis, 2024) Clement, Richard P.; Runyogote, Joseph; Raymond, Jofrey; Chacha, Musa N.
An ethnobotanical survey was conducted to determine the
plant species used against gout and gout-associated con-
ditions (GACs) in Monduli, Arusha, Tanzania. The survey
that involved 21 Maasai traditional food system (TFS) and
traditional medicine (TM) practitioners revealed that the
study area had 101 plant species distributed in 84 genera
and 42 families. About 79% of the species were used as
medicine; some were used as food or for processing. The
medicinal plants (MPs) managed 69 health conditions
including gout, “Olgila” and GACs. The MPs had potential
nutritional and antioxidant agents against diseases includ-
ing metabolic diseases (MDs), like gout. The root parts of
the plants (54% species) were exploited the most; most
plants (94%) were sourced from the wild. Integrated con-
servation and promotion measures are needed to prevent
loss of TFS and TM knowledge.
Spatial Variation in Contaminant Occurrence in Marine Fishes and Prawns from Coastal Tanzania
(Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2022) Haarr, Ane; Mwakalapa, Eliezer B.; Lyche, Jan L.; Mmochi, Aviti J.; Polder, Anuschka; Ruus, Anders; Borgå, Katrine
There are limited data on organic contaminants in marine biota from coastal Tanzania, especially on the occurrence of
industrial‐use contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The present
study, performed in 2018–2019 in coastal Tanzania and Zanzibar Island, aimed at assessing spatial variation in the occurrence of
PCBs; brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including PBDEs; and organochlorine pesticides, including dichlorodiphenyltri-
chloroethane (DDT), among three locations that differ in degree of anthropogenic activity. Analyzed samples included edible
tissues of marine fishes and prawns representing different trophic levels and habitats. The results indicate a mainland–island
difference, with fishes and prawns collected on Zanzibar having significantly lower PCB and DDT concentrations but higher
concentrations of hexachlorobenzene compared to the two mainland locations. The highest contaminant concentrations were
found in fishes and prawns collected around central Dar es Salaam harbor, with median ΣPCBs ranging from 22.3 to 577 ng/g
lipid weight and ΣDDTs from 22.7 to 501 ng/g lipid weight, suggesting local sources. Concentrations of PBDEs were similar
among locations, suggesting more diffuse sources. None of the “newer‐type” BFRs, including compounds introduced as
replacements for PBDEs, were detected in the present study. Stable isotope values of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) varied
among locations, and the relationship between contaminants and δ15N varied among locations and habitat (pelagic/demersal).
Concentrations measured in the present study are below European guidelines for human consumption of fishes and prawns.
However, industrial‐use contaminants should be monitored in developing countries because they are contaminants of emerging
concern as a result of increasing industrialization and global trade of used products and wastes. Environ Toxicol Chem
2022;41:321–333. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf
of SETAC
Optimized Method for Processing Avocado Seeds to Improve Selected Nutrients and Functional Values
(Japanese Society for Food Science and Technology, 2021) RUNYOGOTE, Joseph; CHACHA, Musa; NDABIKUNZE, Bernadette; RAYMOND, Jofrey
The objective of this study was to develop an optimal processing technique capable of reducing
antinutrients to acceptable levels, retain nutrients and functional values of avocado seeds for human
consumption. Different processing conditions for probiotic fermentation, boiling and soaking techniques
were studied to establish optimal processing conditions for the seeds. The antinutrients, antioxidant activity,
total phenolics and selected nutrients of avocado seeds were analyzed using analytical standard methods.
All processing techniques significantly (p < 0.05) reduced over 50 % of antinutrients. The highest total
phenolics and antioxidant activity (IC50) were 33.3 mgGAE/g and 0.8 mg/mL respectively which were
observed at a fermentation temperature of 37 oC. Soaking and boiling reduced the analyzed minerals to
about 30 % whereas probiotic fermentation retained 100 % of minerals analyzed, ascorbic acid and α-
tocopherol. Moreover, probiotic fermentation demonstrated the best results in comparison to boiling and
soaking thus, considered as an optimal processing method for improving nutritional and functional values
of avocado seed
Assessment of the physico-chemical and sensory properties of frozen fillets of tuna and tunarelated fish species marketed along the Tanga and Mtwara coastlines, Tanzania
(Taylor & Francis, 2022-11-10) Lujuo,E.J.; Mkupasi, E.M.; Lamtane,H.A.
Tuna and tuna-related fish are valuable marine species lacking standardized quality assessment parameters. This study assessed the physico-chemical and sensory properties of skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), bigeye (Thunnus obesus), yellowfin (Thunnus albacares), and kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis) tuna fish fillets marketed in Tanga and Mtwara, Tanzania. Laboratory AOAC methods evaluated total volatile basic-nitrogen (TVB-N), pH, color (lightness L*), and texture (hardness) properties. The quality index method (QIM) assessed tuna fillets’ sensory properties (color, texture, and odor). The pH ranged between 5.60 ± 0.08 and 6.10 ± 0.30, the TVB-N between 34 ± 7.00 mg/ 100 g and 38.04 ± 10.50 mg/100 g, color lightness (L*) between 24.33 ± 1.82 and 40.10 ± 1.50, and texture (hardness) from 3.84 ± 1.20 N to 8.56 ± 1.84 N. The tuna fillets got an overall score of 2 in the sensory analysis, which indicated good quality according to the QIM. Furthermore, the present study showed significant differences (p < .05) between the tuna species in pH, hardness (instrumental), and color lightness properties (L*). There were no significant differences (p > .05) in average TVB-N results across all tuna fillets. There were significant correlations among the assessed quality properties. Based on the combined quality properties results and correlation analysis, the tuna and tuna-related fish marketed in the study areas were of good quality. This study recommends the establishment of standardized quality assessment parameters for tuna and related fish species.