Bioaccumulation of Metals in the Organs of Fish inhabiting Ravi River: Serious Threat to Fish and Consumer’s Health
Bioaccumulation of Metals in the Organs of Fish inhabiting Ravi River: Serious Threat to Fish and Consumer’s Health
Zarish Yaqoob1, Saleema Bashir Shams2, Gaitee Joshua2 and Bibi Nazia Murtaza2,3*
ABSTRACT
Heavy metal contamination of river water adversely affects the growth and productivity of fish and contributes to the human health disasters. River is a trans-country river originating in Himachal Pradesh, India and joins Indus and its tributary rivers in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The present study describes the concentration of heavy metals in the water and different tissues of native fish collected from three different areas. The highest concentration of Cr (1.451 µg L-1) and Co (0.325 µg L-1) was measured in the river water at Balloki. However, Cd (0.981µg L-1)and Zn (1.239 µg L-1)were contributing maximum contamination at confluence of Deg Nallah and river Ravi. We found maximum accumulation of Cr (21.1 ppm) in Rita rita, Co (13.1 ppm) in Channa marulius, Cd (20.1 ppm) in Cirrhinus mrigala and Zn (32.9 ppm) in Cyprinus carpio. Maximum accumulation of heavy metals was found in the gills of fish followed by liver, kidneys, muscle and fat cells. Overall, seventeen fish species were recorded in the study areas indicating a decrease in the number of species in Ravi. The results have shown that the water of Ravi is unsafe for aquatic life and irrigation. Metal concentration in the fish meat is higher than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) parameters indicating a serious health threat to both, the fish and human population.
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December 2020
Vol. 52, Iss. 6, Pages 2027-2426
