The Olifants River, Limpopo River system, is now one of the most polluted rivers in South Africa. The concentrations of metals in fish muscle tissue from two impoundments on the Olifants River, Flag Boshielo Dam and Phalaborwa Barrage, were measured and a human health risk assessment conducted to investigate whether it was safe to consume Labeo rosae from these impoundments. Labeo rosae is one of the most common pan-fish in these impoundments and is frequently available to rural communities. Metals are accumulating in the muscle tissue of L. rosae even though the populations appear to be healthy. At Flag Boshielo Dam the recommended hazard quotient (HQ) of 1 was exceeded for lead and chromium in all L. rosae analysed, and 53% exceeded that for antimony. At Phalaborwa Barrage almost all L. rosae analysed exceeded the recommended HQ for lead, and <25% exceeded that for arsenic. Weekly consumption of 150 g of L. rosae muscle tissue from these impoundments may pose an unacceptable health risk to rural communities.

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As rural populations grow and rural poverty increases, consumption of fish from contaminated river systems will increase to supplement dietary protein requirements. The concentrations of metals in fish muscle tissue at two impoundments of the Olifants River (Flag Boshielo Dam and the Phalaborwa Barrage) were measured, and a human health risk assessment following Heath et al. (2004) conducted to investigate whether consumption of Schilbe intermedius from these impoundments posed a risk to human health. The results confirmed that metals are accumulating in the muscle tissue of S. intermedius. No patterns were observed in the ratios of the metals bio-accumulated at each impoundment. The human health risk assessment identified that all fish analysed exceeded the recommended levels for safe consumption for lead and chromium and about 50% exceeded the recommended level for antimony at Flag Boshielo Dam. Almost all fish analysed exceeded the recommended level for lead and more than 50% exceeded the recommended level for arsenic at the Phalaborwa Barrage. We conclude that weekly consumption of S. intermedius from these impoundments may pose an unacceptable risk to the health of rural communities.

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