Concentration of Zn, Cu and Pb in Some Selected Marine Fishes of the Pahang Coastal Waters, Malaysia

Kamaruzzaman Kamaruzzaman

doi:10.3844/ajassp.2010.309.314

Abstract

Problem statement: Heavy metals constitute one of the most hazardous substances that could be accumulated in biota. Fish populations exploited by man often live in coastal area environments that contain high levels of heavy metals, coming from human activities such as industrial and agricultural wastes. A problem to deal when using fishes as biomonitors of heavy metals is the relationship existing between metal concentration and several intrinsic factors of the fish such as organism size, genetic composition and age of fish. Approach: Concentration of Zn, Cu and Pb were determined in eight commercially valuable fish species, Selaroides leptolepis, Euthynnus affinis, Parastromateus niger, Lutjanius malabaricus, Epinephelus sexfasciatus, Rastrelliger kanagurta, Nemipterus japonicus and Megalaspis cordyla from Pahang coastal water. The concentration was measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The study focuses on the level of Zn, Cu and Pb in order to assess the environmental pollution by using fishes as an indicator. Results: Concentrations of the heavy metals in examined fish species ranged as follow: Zn 19.27 µg g-1 dry weight; Cu 2.88 µg g-1 dry weight and Pb 0.26 µg g-1 dry weight, respectively. The concentrations of Zn, Cu and Pb were found to follow the order: stomach > muscle > gills. Significant correlations were found between fish weight and heavy metals concentration in the fish organs. Conclusion: The estimated values of all metals in muscles of fish in this study were below the established values. Therefore, it can be concluded that the fish from Pahang coastal water are comparatively clean and do not constitute a risk for human health.

Highlights

Fish are the major part of human diet and it is not surprising that numerous studies have been carried out on metal accumulation in different species (Kucuksezgin et al, 2001; Lewis et al, 2002)
The levels of Zn, Cu and Pb in various tissues of Selaroides leptolepis, Euthynnus affinis, Parastromateus niger, Lutjanius malabaricus, Epinephelus sexfasciatus, Rastrelliger kanagurta, Nemipterus japonicus and Megalaspis cordyla are given in Fig. 2 for each metals, respectively
Our results show that generally metal accumulation in highest in stomach followed by muscle and gill

Summary

Introduction

Fish are the major part of human diet and it is not surprising that numerous studies have been carried out on metal accumulation in different species (Kucuksezgin et al, 2001; Lewis et al, 2002). Fish have been popular targets of heavy metal monitoring programs in marine environments because sampling, sample preparation and chemical analysis are usually simpler, more rapid and less expensive than alternative choices such as water and sediment (Rayment and Barry, 2000). The presence heavy metal at high concentrations in water or sediment does not involved direct toxicological risk to fish, especially in the absence of significant bioaccumulation. Due to the deleterious effects of metals on aquatic ecosystems, it is necessary to monitor their bioaccumulation in key species, because this will give an indication of the temporal and spatial extent of the process, as well as an assessment of the potential impact on organism health (Fernandes et al, 2006)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion