Determination of heavy metal concentrations in six species of fresh water fish sold in Quetta city, Pakistan

• Published in: Pure and applied biology Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 79
• Main Author: Malik, Yasmeen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Quetta International Society of Pure and Applied Biology 10.03.2017
• Subjects: Atomic absorption analysis; Bioaccumulation; Cadmium; Chromium; Consumption; Copper; Ecosystems; Fatty acids; Fish; Fishing; Food; Fresh water; Freshwater environments; Freshwater fish; Gills; Health sciences; Heavy metals; Iron; Lead; Liver; Manganese; Markets; Metal concentrations; Metals; Muscles; Nickel; Pharmacy; Production increases; Scientific imaging; Sediments; Species; Spectral analysis; Tilapia; Zinc; Zoology; Quetta Pakistan
• ISSN: 2304-2478; 2304-2478
• DOI: 10.19045/bspab.2016.50169

Current study was carried out to determine heavy metals in six species of fish i.e. Oreochromis mosambicus, Cyprinus carpio, Tor putitora, Cirrhinus mrigala, Labeo rohita and Ctenopharyngodon idella, belonging to class Cyprinidae, collected from the fish markets of Quetta city, Balochistan. Concentrations of Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd) Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr) and Nickle (Ni) were determined in Liver, Heart, Gills and Muscles of selected species by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Concentration of Fe was higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) limits in all species except Ctenopharyngodon idella. Concentration of Zn was within the limits except Cyprinus carpio. Concentration of Mn, Cu, Cd and Pb were below the limits set by WHO. Cr and Ni were not detected in any species. The concentrations of heavy metals in edible part (muscles) of all species were below the WHO limits. So, current study reveals that the fish of selected species are safe for human consumption.