Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in mullet (Mugil cephalus) and oyster (Crassostrea madrasensis) from Pulicat lake, south east coast of India

Abstract

The accumulation of six heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni) in sediment, water and in tissue parts of Mugil cephalus and Crassostrea madrasensis was studied in two locations of Pulicat lake, Southeast coast of India, which receives considerable quantity of effluents from industries located in North Chennai coastal region. The results reveal that the metal concentration in water is decreasing in the following order of Zn > Ni > Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd both in lake and barmouth and highest concentration was observed for Zn (32.5 μg L(-1) in lake and 25.2 μg L(-1) in bar mouth). Metals were highly concentrated in sediments when compared to water and biota. Metals abundance in sediments has following sequential order of Cr > Ni > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd and the accumulation pattern in barmouth showed minor variation indicating the following pattern of Zn > Ni > Cr > Cu > Pb > Cd. The geoaccumulation index (I(geo)) for Pulicat lake sediments indicate that the sediments are extremely contaminated with Cd and moderately contaminated with Cu and Ni. Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Mugil cephalus and Crassostrea madrasensis showed marked differences in the accumulation patterns. It is observed that Zn, Cu and Pb are accumulated in elevated concentrations in various parts of the fish and oyster when compared with other metals.

Environmental Investigations and Tissue Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Grey Mullet from the Black Sea (Bulgaria) and the Ionian Sea (Italy)

“…Several authors have previously investigated the feeding habits and heavy metal distributions in grey mullet ( M. cephalus ), since this fish species lives close to the bottom sediments [ 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 ]. They found that the mullet specimens accumulate heavy metals in various tissues, and this is a prominent indicator for the heavy metal pollution coming from the surrounding water bodies.…”

Physiological Responses Influenced by Certain Heavy Metals at the Mullet Fish, Mugil cephalus Inhabiting Mediterranean Sea Coast at Damietta Governorate, Egypt.

“…The natural water bodies may extensively be contaminated with various heavy metals released from industrial and mining effluents, discharge of sewage and sewage sludge, dumping of hospital and anthropogenic activities, etc. (Vinodhini & Narayanan, 2008;Malik et al, 2010;Laxmi-Priya et al, 2011 andMohamed, 2019).…”

Aboriginal Consumption of Estuarine Food Resources and Potential Implications for Health through Trace Metal Exposure; A Study in Gumbaynggirr Country, Australia

“…Both species are highly regarded among the Gumbaynggirr community for cultural, customary, and sustenance purposes, in both a historic and contemporary context. However due to their feeding techniques, both species have a high capacity for bioaccumulation of contaminants [ 25 – 27 ]: Oysters filter large quantities of water [ 28 ] and the fish family, Mugilidae, to which M . elongatus belong are largely detritivores [ 25 , 26 ].…”

“…Trace metals persist in the environment and exist within aquatic ecosystems from natural and anthropogenic origins [ 28 – 31 ]. They are widespread and have a tendency to accumulate in the tissue of many aquatic animals [ 28 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Presence of trace metals in the Nambucca River estuary may be due to the influence of derelict mines, agriculture, cattle dips and mineralization in the catchment [ 35 , 36 ].…”