Study of the Copper, Chromium and Lead Content in Mugil Cephalus and Eleginops Maclovinus Obtained in the Mouths of the Maule and Mataquito Rtvers (Maule Region, Chile)

Abstract

The Cu, Cr and Pb concentrations were determined in Mugil cephalus and Eleginops maclovinus, fish species inhabiting the mouths of the Maule and Mataquito Rivers (Maule Region, Chile) which are consumed by the coastal population in large quantities. Measurements were taken by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy to analyse representative muscle tissue of the two species. The method was validated using certified reference material (DOLT-1). The concentration ranges of Cu, Cr and Pb (mg . kg -1 , dry weight) in Mugil cephalus from the Maule river were: Cu 0.5-36.2; Cr 0.3-6.3; Pb 0.4-11.2 and from the Mataquito river varied between: Cu 0.6-23.2; Cr 0.3-6.0 and Pb 0.4-11.1. For the species Eleginops maclovinus from the Maule river the concentration ranges were: Cu 0.8-13.2; Cr 0.2-5.6; Pb 0.2-9.6 and from the Mataquito river: Cu 0.5-18.4; Cr 0.2-3.2 and Pb 0.3-4.0. The concentration ranges of Cu and Cr recorded in the two species of fish are within the levels permitted by FAO and EPA, however the concentrations of Pb in Mugil cephalus originating from both estuaries exceeds the levels permitted by current legislation. The statistical analysis done with one way ANOVA (p < 0.05) indicated that for each metal there are no significant differences between the species and the two sampling sites; however with two way ANOVA between the species and the two sampling sites a significant difference was found for Cu and Cr, but not for Pb.

Heavy metals in the liver and muscle of Micropogonias manni fish from Budi Lake, Araucania Region, Chile: potential risk for humans

“…Methods for sample preparation and analysis were similar to those used by Tapia et al (2006Tapia et al ( , 2009Tapia et al ( , 2010, weighing and measuring all the specimens obtained. The fish were gutted and sexed using plastic material, and part of the liver and muscle tissue was extracted.…”

Heavy metals in northern Chilean rivers: Spatial variation and temporal trends

“…Human activities associated with mining industries, such as metal-rich mine tailing and mineral deposits, are important sources of polluting compounds that decrease water quality in several river basins in the northerncentral region of Chile [18,[20][21][22].…”

Baseline toxicological assessment of biliary PAHs and heavy metals contamination in a commercially consumed native fish (Mugil cephalus) within Fiji coastal waters

“…While the sources of Cr in the study sites are unclear, it is common to nd Cr levels higher in water bodies that receives e uents from electroplating, dyeing, or printing industries 43 , most of which are found in the Western Division which includes Ba Province. A similar study of Cr levels in mullet from the Maule Region, Chile, found mean concentrations at 2.4 mg/kg (dry weight) [min-max: 0.3 ± 0.1-6.3 ± 0.7 mg/kg dry weight] 44 . Comparatively, the ndings in this study are in the lower ranges of Cr concentration than what was detected by Tapia, et al 44 .…”