Assessment of cadmium, lead, copper and zinc in fish species reared in treated Sewage effluents in Suez city

ABSTRACT

Levels of the heavy metals Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn in 8 organs of each of 2 reared fish species; namely, Oreochromis niloticus and Mugil seheli were measured using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results revealed that the level of the heavy metal concentrations is varying according to the fish species and to the examined organs. The order of abundance of these metals in these two fishes is Pb > Zn > Cu > Cd, i.e. there is a pronounced elevation in Pb level in most organs of the two fish species, while cadmium recorded the lowest values. Zn and Cu are of higher values than Cd, but both are less than Pb. On the other hand, M. seheli accumulates all the heavy metals with the exception of Pb to greater extent than those in O. niloticus. Generally, muscles of both fishes consistently contain the low values of the metals