Estimation of heavy metals in some economic fishes in the Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the concentration and the pollution status of heavy metals; Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Nickel, Iron, Chromium, Arsenic and Mercury in the water, sediment and some economic fishes in the Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia. The Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Fe, Cr, As and Hg were determined monthly in water, sediment and in the muscles, gills and livers of six fish species; Orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides), Spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus), White-spotted rabbitfish (Siganus canaliculatus), Silver sillago (Sillago sihama), Twobar seabream (Acanthopagrus bifasciatus) and Haffara seabream (Rhabdosargus haffara) collected from the coastal water of Arabian Gulf, during the period (July–December 2015). The results declared that, the average concentrations of heavy metals were in trend water < soil< livers of fishes, the liver recoded the highest heavy metals values in all fish species, but the muscles (edible parts) of all species recorded the lowest values of heavy metals and less the permissible limit of national and international standers. The accumulation of heavy metals in the edible muscles of the investigated species and other organs may be considered as an important warning signal for water quality, fish health and human consumption.