Heavy metal determination in fish species of Anzali Lagoon

An investigation of the transference of five heavy metals, Zinc, Cobalt, mercury, lead and cadmium to the edible portions of commercially valued fish species Esox lucius (3-7 years) Carassius auratus (3 - 6 years) Cyprinus carpio (3 - 8 years) Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (1 - 3 years) was conducted. The concentration of Zn, Co, Pb, and Cd were measured using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and Hg with Flameless Atomic Absorption using cold mercury vapour. Average accumulated levels of Zn, Cd, Co, Pb and Hg in the muscle tissue of the fishes under survey were 17.28 ± 4.80 ppm, 0.025 ± 0.021 ppm, 0.693 ± 0.48 ppm and 1.04 ± 0.60 ppm of dry weight (X STD) respectively. Detected concentrations at present study do not exceed from tolerance levels based on WHO standards, except in six year old pike specimens sampled in an area exposed to industrial effluents which tend to reach critical levels. Thus this study shows that for the conservation of the Anzali Lagoon and the prote....