Accumulation of heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd and Pb) in mullets Planiliza subviridis (Valenciennes, 1836) and Ellochelon vaigiensis(Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) from Damb Harbor, Balochistan, Pakistan

Abstract

Abstract In this study, muscle samples collected from Planiliza subviridis (Valenciennes, 1836) and Ellochelon vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) caught on the Balochistan coast (Damb Harbor) between January and December 2015 (during the northeast monsoon, post-monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons, and the southwest monsoon) were analyzed to determine concentrations of heavy metals: iron, zinc, copper, manganese, cadmium and lead by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, expressed per unit of dry weight of each sample. The average measured level of Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd and Pb for P. subviridis was 26.70 ± 11.49 μg g−1, 13.82 ± 4.56 μg g−1, 1.66 ± 0.84 μg g−1, 0.24 ± 0.10 μg g−1, 0.06 ± 0.07 μg g−1 and 0.17 ± 0.14 μg g−1, respectively. The average level of the same metals for E. vaigiensis was 29.26 ± 10.18 μg g−1, 18.85 ± 6.28 μg g−1, 2.18 ± 1.01 μg g−1, 0.32 ± 0.14 μg g−1, 0.25 ± 0.11 μg g−1 and 0.30 ± 0.12 μg g−1, respectively. The highest Pb accumulation (0.56 μg g−1 and 0.61 μg g−1) detected in P. subviridis and E. vaigiensis is above the limit value (0.50 μg g−1) reported by FAO, hence the accumulation of Pb in these two fish species should be monitored in the future.