Seasonal Variations in the Concentrations of Chemical Elements in the Organs of Selected Marine Fishes from the International Iraqi Waters, NW Arabian Gulf

Abstract

To investigate the accumulation of certain heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in different organs of fish, six different marine fish species: Cynoglossus arel, Carangoides chrysophrys, Euryglossa orientalis, Sardinella longiceps, Siganus canaliculatus, and Parastromateus niger were collected from fishing area within the international waters of Iraq in the top of Arabian Gulf located between Two fishing stations; the first with N 29 36 530 and E 48 48 780, and the second with N 29 48 729 E 48 38 109. All studied metals were reported to be accumulated at different levels in the organs of the fishes, Zn and Fe were reported as the highest accumulating metals in different organs of studied fishes, while Pb was the lowest. Other metals Cd, Cu, Mn, and Ni were alternatively changed in all organs and during the whole seasons of the year. Although they recorded high levels of Zn and Fe and due to their unactivity towards environmental pollutants , muscles accumulation of heavy metals were very low.