Abstract
The current investigation aimed to determine the accumulated levels of heavy metals (Fe, Mn and Cu) in fish (T. zilii and M. capito) organs (muscles, liver and gill) collected from different sites of Lake Qarun in four seasons (August 2014 to May 2015). Metal concentrations in fish species tissues from the eastern part of the lake followed an abundance of: Fe>Mn>Cu. However, metal concentrations from the middle and west of the lake followed an abundance of: Fe>Cu>Mn. Tissues showed different capacities for accumulating heavy metals, the lowest values of accumulated heavy metals were recorded in the muscle, while the highest values recorded in the liver in two fish species. Also, heavy metals accumulation in the tissue of two fish species followed the order: liver< gill < muscle. M. capito accumulate heavy metals higher than T. zilli.
Highlights
Heavy metals are considered the hazardous inorganic pollutants in the aquatic environment and their concentrations in the various parts of organisms are determined primarily indicative of the level of the pollution in the environment [1]
The maximum value of Fe concentrations (131.4 ± 1.63 μg/g dry wt.) was recorded in the liver of fish M. capito collected from eastern part of the lake in summer season, while minimum value (21 ± 0.72 μg/g dry wt.) was recorded in the muscle of M. capito collected from middle part of the lake in winter season Table 2
Mn concentrations (7.8 ± 0.80 μg/g dry wt.) was recorded in the liver of fish M. capito collected from eastern part of the lake in summer season, while minimum value (1.01 ± 0.22 μg/g dry wt.) was recorded in the muscle of M. capito collected from middle part of the lake in winter season
Summary
Heavy metals are considered the hazardous inorganic pollutants in the aquatic environment and their concentrations in the various parts of organisms are determined primarily indicative of the level of the pollution in the environment [1]. The heavy metals can produce toxic effects at high concentration and low or high trace element unbalances can be considered as risk factors for several diseases [5]. The heavy metals discharged into aquatic environmental (seas, rivers and lakes) can damage aquatic species, diversity and ecosystem. These toxic heavy metals have changed the quality of water that affects aquatic biota and fish. Prolonged exposures to trace elements even in very low concentrations have been reported to induce morphological, histological and biochemical alterations in the tissues that may critically influence fish quality [8]. In addition to being a source of high protein content and low saturated fat which contains omega fatty acids known to support good health [9], they play an important role in energy flows nutrient cycling and maintaining community balance in this ecosystem [10]
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