Analyzing Cadmium and Nickel Levels in Labeo Rohita, Catla Catla, and Cirrihinus Mrigala From Local Fish Markets in Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Thirty-six (36) fish samples were collected from the different local fish markets of Lahore city to check the bioaccumulation of heavy metals. The mean Cd concentration ranged from (32.33 – 39.69ug/kg), (23.26 – 35.45ug/kg), (35.37 -45.06ug/kg) in gills (28.99- 38.17ug/kg), (21.74– 30.07ug/kg), (33.92 – 43.61ug/kg) in muscles (26.12– 35.56ug/kg), (18,87– 31.32ug/kg), (31.05 – 41.01ug/kg) in liver of Labeo rohita, Catla catla and Cirrihinus mrigala respectively. The mean Ni concentration ranged from (44.93 – 52.86ug/kg), (45.65 – 52.86ug/kg), (52.30 -61.14ug/kg) in gills (43.48- 51.41ug/kg), (44.20– 54.62ug/kg), (50.86 – 59.69ug/kg) in muscles (40.48 – 48.81ug/kg), (41.56 – 48.81ug/kg), (48.21 – 57.08ug/kg) in liver of Labeo rohita, Catla catla and Cirrihinus mrigala respectively. The comparison between sampling markets revealed no significant difference among them and the results between fish species shows highest concentration of Ni (55.26ppb) in Cirrhina mrigala. The accumulation pattern of all the heavy metals in different organs of all the studied fish species was significantly lower (p<0.05) as compared to admissible concentration reported by WHO. Therefore, the fish of these areas do not pose serious threat to human health upon consumption.