Determination of Heavy Metal (Cu, Pb and Zn) Concentrations in Muscle Tissue of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Cyprinus carpio and Ctenopharyngodon idella Caught from Zarivar Wetland, western Iran

Abstract

The present research report the heavy metal (Cu, Pb and Zn) contamination in muscle tissue of three species of fish (silver carp, common carp and grass carp) caught from Zarivar international wetland. Heavy metal concentrations (ìg g "1 , wet weight; means±S.D.) in silver carp, common carp and grass carp muscle tissue were: Cu-0.006 ±0.005, 0.01±0.008 and 0.013.91±0.011, Pb-0.008±0.006, 0.006±0.003 and 0.011±0.007, Zn-0.013±0.009, 0.017±0.014 and 0.009±0.008, respectively. Comparative evaluation of these metals in different fish species showed that the average concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn of all species is significantly lower than adverse level for the species themselves and for human consumption when compared with FAO/WHO permissible limits. Therefore, their contribution to the total body burden of these heavy metals can be considered as negligibly small.