Bioaccumulation of lead, nickel and cadmium in the muscle, liver and skin of Otolithes ruber and Sphyraena forsteri

One of the major global concerns about the environment is the pollution of aquatic ecosystems by heavy metals. These elements contaminate aquatic environments and accumulate and concentrate at through bioaccumulation in the tissues of living organisms at higher levels of the food chain consumed by humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of three heavy metals, lead, nickel and cadmium, in the muscle tissue of two species of fish Otolithes ruber and Sphyraena forsteri in the fishing ports of Konarak and Pozm were investigated. 36 fish samples were collected from Konarak and Pazm ports. After preparation of the samples, the concentrations of lead, nickel and cadmium were measured by acid digestion by Contr-AA-700 atomic absorption spectrometer. Based on the results of the study, the amount of hravy metal accumulation was different between the samples of the two regions. The amount of lead in the muscle of Otolithes ruber and Sphyraena forsteri was 0/59±0/12 and 0/55±0/2 respectively, and the cadmium concentration was 0/07±0/15 and 0/09±0/1 mg/kg, respectively. Also, the amount of lead and nickel in Sphyraena forsteri was less than Otolithes ruber. Concentrations of lead and cadmium in the muscle tissue of Otolithes ruber and Sphyraena forsteri less than the standards of the UK Department of Fisheries and Agriculture (MAFF), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Except for the concentration of nickel, which was higher than the WHO standard.