Distribution of Heavy Metals in Valuable Coastal Fishes from North East Coast of India

Year 2012, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, - , 01.02.2012

Bhupander Kumar K. S. Sajwan D. P. Mukherjee

Abstract

Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cd, Hg and As in muscle tissue of fish species collected from North East coast of India were determined. The bioaccumulation of Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn was predominant followed by As, Hg and Cd in muscle tissue of coastal fishes. The concentration range of Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cd, Hg and As in fishes was 0.5-28.2, 3.0-99.1, 0.5-12.0, 10.4-249.7, 0.01-1.10, 0.05-1.60 and 0.02-2.37 µg g -1 dry wt. respectively. The concentration of heavy metals was species specific and significantly different. Comparatively higher concentrations of heavy metals were accumulated in Trichiurus trichiurus, Pampus argentius, Harpadon nehereus and Arius sp. followed by Daysciaena albida, Formio niger, Hilsa ilisha and Rastrelliger kanagurta. The order of heavy metal concentration was observed as: Fe>Zn>Cu>Mn>As>Hg>Cd. The Pearson product moment correlation was calculated and most of the metals are correlated well. Concentration of Mn in fish tissue was higher than WHO/FAO guideline values, but other metals were lower than certified values.

Keywords

Heavy metal, fish muscle, Bioaccumulation, coastal fishes, India