Content of selected metals in muscle of cyprinid fish species from the Nitra River, Slovakia.

OBJECTIVES: This study presents a rate of bioaccumulation of some metal concentrations in the muscle of five common cyprinid fish species (gudgeon - Gobio gobio, Europen chub - Leuciscus cephalus, barbel - Barbus barbus, roach - Rutilus rutilus, and nase - Chondrostoma nasus). DESIGN: Besides, correlations among selected metals as well as standard length and total weight and order of metal accumulation in the fish muscle were determined. RESULTS: Recorded metal concentrations (mg/kg wet weight basis) ranged as follows: Fe 4.23-22.95, Mn 0.10-0.72, Zn 16.26-166.90, Cu 15.39-25.97, Ni 0.00-3.72, Pb 0.00-1.81, and Cd 0.00-0.11. CONCLUSIONS: The Slovak permissible limit for Cu (10.0 mg/kg), Ni (0.5 mg/kg), Pb (0.2 mg/kg) and Cd (0.05 mg/kg) defined in the Codex Alimentarius for safe human consumption exceeded in 100%, 12%, 6% and 10% of analyzed samples for Cu, Ni, Pb and Cd respectively. On an average, the order of metal concentrations in the fish muscle was: Zn>Cu>Fe>Mn>Ni>Pb>Cd.

Accumulation of some metals in muscles of five fish species from lower Nitra river.

This paper reports the results of accumulated selected metals concentrations (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Pb, Cd, Hg and meHg) in the muscle of five common Slovak fish species (Chub-Leuciscus cephalus, Common carp-Cyprinus carpio, Prussian carp-Carassius gibelio, Roach-Rutilus rutilus, and Wels catfish-Silurus glanis). Furthermore, correlations among the selected metals and order of metal accumulation in the fish muscle were determined. The concentrations of metals (mg/kg wet weight basis) ranged as follows: Fe 3.70-21.10; Mn 0.27-1.50; Zn 3.72-42.82; Cu 0.26-1.82; Ni 0.02-0.29; Co 0.06-0.28; Cr 0.09-0.28; Pb 0.08-34.59; Cd 0.06-2.76, Hg 0.34-3.64 and meHg 0.08-1.20. The level of lead and mercury exceeded the maximum allowed concentration in Slovakia by the Codex Alimentarius for safe human consumption (0.2 and 0.5 mg/kg, respectively) in the majority of samples (94.6 and 82.1%, respectively). Content of Cd (0.88 +/- 0.76 mg/kg wet weight) in the fish muscle exceeded maximum allowed levels (0.05 mg/kg) in all samples. An average, the order of metal concentrations in the fish muscle was: Fe > Zn > Pb > Cd > Hg > Cu > Mn > meHg > Ni > Cr > Co.

Heavy metals content and microbiological quality of carp (Cyprinus carpio, L.) muscle from two Southwestern Slovak fish farms.

The purpose of this study was to assess concentration and correlation of selected heavy metals and level of some microbiological indicators (total bacteria count-TBC, mesophilic anaerobic sporulating bacteria-MASB) in the muscle of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Fish were collected by seine net within the frame of pondfishing, in October (pond Horné Obdokovce--pond A) and December (pond Budmerice--pond B) 2003. Concentrations of selected metals were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer Pye Unicam SP9. The concentrations of metals (mg/kg wet weight basis) ranged as follows: Fe 3.47-15.15; Mn 0.14-0.42; Zn 3.47-9.52; Cu 0.24-1.32; Co 0.05-0.17; Ni 0.07-0.42; Cr 0.08-0.19; Pb 0.11-0.30; and Cd 0.01-0.05. The count of MASB and TCB (in CFU/g) varied as follow: 1.12-7.76 x 10(3) and 0.03-7.59 x 10(6), respectively. Significant differences (P < 0.05) for Cu, Ni, and Cr bioaccumulation, as well as for count of MASB between ponds were recorded. An opposite trend of bioaccumulation was found in only 12 of 36 cases. Positive correlations between counts of MASB and accumulated heavy metals, except Ni and negative correlations between TBC and accumulated heavy metals, except Cr, were recorded, (P < 0.05) for TBC-Mn and TBC-Cd relationship. Lead concentrations exceeded the maximum values allowed concentration in Slovakia by Codex Alimentarius (0.2 mg/kg) by 60% for pond-A and 40% for pond-B. The level of MASB count exceeded the maximum allowed concentration in 100% by both ponds. On average, the order of metal concentrations in the fish muscle was: (Pond-A) Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Pb > Cr > Ni > Co > Cd; (Pond-B) Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Pb > Ni > Cr > Co > Cd.

Concentration of selected metals in muscle of various fish species.

The purpose of this study was to assess concentration of selected metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Pb, Cd, and Hg) in the muscle of four common Slovak fish species (chub--Leuciscus cephalus, barbel--Barbus barbus, roach--Rutilus rutilus, and perch--Perca fluviatilis). Furthermore, correlations among the selected metals and order of metal accumulation in the fish muscle were determined. An electrofishing technique was used for collecting the fish from the Nitra River (Slovakia) in September 2003. Concentrations of selected metals were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer Pye Unicam SP9. The concentrations of metals (mg/kg wet weight basis) ranged as follows: Fe 3.41-15.14; Mn 0.20-0.81; Zn 3.51-15.64; Cu 0.25-0.78; Ni 0.07-0.25; Co 0.05-0.19; Cr 0.11-0.42; Pb 0.20-5.81; Cd 0.06-0.56, and Hg 1.35-6.52. Significant correlations (P < 0.05) between Fe-Cu, Fe-Ni, Fe-Cr, Mn-Ni, Mn-Cr, Mn-Cr, Cu-Ni, and Ni-Cr were observed. The level of lead exceeded the maximum allowable concentration in Slovakia by Codex Alimentarius for safe human consumption (0.2 mg/kg) in the majority of samples (97.2%). Content of Cd (0.23 +/- 0.13 mg/kg wet weight) and Hg (2.85 +/- 1.22 mg/kg wet weight) in the fish muscle exceeded maximum allowed levels in all samples. On average, the order of metal concentrations in the fish muscle was: Fe > Zn > Hg > Pb > Cu > Mn > Cd > Cr > Ni > Co.