Monitoring of trace metals in tissues of Wallago attu (lanchi) from the Indus River as an indicator of environmental pollution

Journal Article

a, K.A. Al-Ghanim a, Shahid Mahboob a,b,*, Sadia Seemab b, S. Sultana b, T. Sultana b, Fahad Al-Misned a, Z. Ahmed . 2016

• Publication Work Type: Freshwater fish; Bioaccumulation; Gills; Liver; Skin; Muscle
• Publication Online URL: Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences
• Tags: Freshwater fish; Bioaccumulation; Gills; Liver; Skin; Muscle
• Magazine \ Newspaper: Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences
• Issue Number: 1
• Volume Number: 23
• Pages: 72-78

Publication Abstract

We aimed to assess the bioaccumulation of selected four trace metals (Cd, Ni, Zn and
Co) in four tissues (muscles, skin, gills and liver) of a freshwater fish Wallago attu (lanchi) from
three different sites (upstream, middle stream and downstream) of the Indus River in Mianwali
district of Pakistan. Heavy metal contents in water samples and from different selected tissues of
fish were examined by using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The data were statistically compared
to study the effects of the site and fish organs and their interaction on the bioaccumulation
pattern of these metals at P < 0.05. In W. attu the level of cadmium ranged from 0.004 to 0.24;
nickel 0.003–0.708; cobalt 0.002–0.768 and zinc 47.4–1147.5 lg/g wet weight. The magnitude of metal
bioaccumulation in different organs of fish species had the following order gills>liver>skin>
muscle. The order of bioaccumulation of these metals was Ni<Zn<Co<Cd. Heavy metal concentrations
were increased during the dry season as compared to the wet season. The results of this study
indicate that freshwater fish produced and marketed in Mianwali have concentrations below the
standards of FEPA/WHO for these toxic metals.