Investigation and determination of some heavy metals in the Aras river fish species in the East Azerbaijan Province (2015-16)

This study was conducted to determine heavy metals (Cu, Mo, As, Hg) in fish species of Aras River (East Azerbaijan) at four stations (From Julfa to 25km after Nourdos border) during four seasons from 2015 to 2016. Thirty eight specimens of fish were collected by using of electrofishing as the main method for sampling. The amounts of heavy metals were measured by using an atomic spectrophotometer in the muscle tissue of specimens. Bioaccumulation factor was also calculated for each species. The amount of bioaccumulation factor for molybdenum was the highest and the arsenic had the lowest amount. The highest concentration of copper was in Barbus lacerta with a mean of 13.6 ± 11.3μg /g dry weight and for the molybdenum, Alburnoides bipunctatus had the highest mean concentration (11.7±4.9) μg / g dry weight. The average concentration of mercury (13.1 ± 1.5 μg / kg dry weight) was highest in Alburnus alburnus. Regarding the arsenic elements, as it was analyzed in a small number of specimens, the highest concentrations were recorded in Alburnoides bipunctatus. According to ANOVA, there were a significant difference between mean concentration of copper in different species (p