Evaluation of Heavy Metals Concentration in Fish from Alexandria Coast, Egypt | ||
| Journal of High Institute of Public Health | ||
| Article 1, Volume 33, Issue 3, July 2003, Pages 423-434 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jhiph.2003.193719 | ||
| Author | ||
| Eman E. Siam | ||
| Marine Environmental Protection Problem, Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport, Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Cadmium Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb concentrations were determined in the muscles and organs (gills, liver, stomach and brain], of five fish species collected from Alexandria coast [El-Mex Bay] in December 2000. Four of them are carnivorous namely, Diplodus sargus, Sparus auratus, Dicentrachus punctatus, and Mugil capito, while the last one Siganus rivulatus is herbivorous. The results indicated high level of accumulation of these metals in the different organs of all studied fish, with respect to their correspondings in the muscle tissues. The accumulation factors for these metals were higher in the herbivorous fish. The essential metals [Fe, Cu, and Mn] were the more pronounced ones reflecting increase the trophic level of the fish. Lead concentration ranged from 1.2-3.5 mg/kg in the stomach and brain while it ranged from 0.4-0.9 mg/kg in fish muscles. Also, Cd level was generally lower than that of Pb in various organs while brain gained the highest values. Both of these toxic metals Pb and Cd were of higher values in the herbivorous fish than in carnivorous ones. Most of the fish generally showed levels of Cd in the organs which are close to that of the recommended standard [2.0 mg/kg] of the National Health and Medical Council in Australia, [NHMRC]. However, none of them contained Cd concentrations above 0.5 mg/kg in their muscle tissues. Comparing the human metal intake due to consumption rate of fish muscles with the permissible level of a Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake [PTWI] demonstrated that, the human consumption of these fish is still safe. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Heavy Metals; Concentration; Fish; Alexandria Coast; Egypt | ||
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