Assessment of Heavy Metals in Sediment and Tissues of Gara Fish from the City
of Khash, South East of Iran
Sanaz Khammar 1*, Esmaeil Karamzahi 2
1- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and
Environmental, University of Birjand, South Khorasan, Iran
2- As graduated of Environmental engineering, University of Zabol
Corresponding Author:
Sanaz Khammar
ABSTRACT:
In the present study, some heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni and Pb) in sediment and their
accumulation in Gara organs (gill, muscle, fin and gonads) were investigated. For this
purpose, samples were collected from three rivers Eskel Abad, Dehpabid and Bidaster
in the city of Khash,(South East of Iran) in spring 2013. Heavy metal levels in sediment
and fish samples were analyzed by atomic absorption device Konic NOVAA300
according to the proportion of μg/g in dry weight.The analysis of heavy metals in
sediments indicated that among the four heavy metals tested, Zn had the highest
concentration, followed by Cu, Ni and Pb. Studies on all the different parts of the fish
revealed Zn had the highest accumulating level in fish and Pb and Ni had the lowest.
According to the results, heavy metal concentrations in the edible parts of Gara were
well within the limits set by the FDA,WHO, NHMRC and UK MAFF recommendations
and showed that the fish from investigated region are safety permissible level for human
consumption.
Keywords: Heavy Metals, Gara, Accumulation, Sediment
INTRODUCTION
The aquatic environment with its water quality is considered the main factor controlling
the state of health and disease fishes. But, the aquatic ecosystems pollution with
contaminants has become a matter of great concern over the last decades. Three rivers
Eskel Abad, Dehpabid and Bidaster are the major rivers in the city of Khash in the
South East of Iran. These three sampling sites, have always played a key role in the
water management of the city of Khash in the past, and were used as sources of water.
But in recent years, the substantial development of urban and industrial activities result
in increasing inputs of chemical contaminants which lead to the loss or alteration of
Gara habitat. Among environmental pollutants, metals are of particular concern, due to
their potential toxic effect and ability to bioaccumulate in aquatic ecosystems (Censi et
al., 2006). Heavy metal concentrations in aquatic ecosystems are usually monitored by
measuring their concentrations in water, sediments and biota (Camusso et al., 1995).
Sediment quality is a good indicator of pollution in water column, where it tends to
concentrate the heavy metals and other organic pollutants. Some kinds of toxic
sediments kill benthic organisms and decrease the food availability for larger animals
such as fish. Bioaccumulation and magnification is capable of leading to toxic level of
these metals in fish, even when the exposure is low. Many aquatic organisms have been
used as bioindicators, including aquatic insects (Rayms-Keller et al., 1998), plants
(Mohan and Hosetti., 1999), protozoans (Fernandez-Leborans and Olalla-Herrero,
2000), crustaceans (Allinson et al., 2000) and fish (Burger et al., 2002). Fish samples
are often the top consumers in aquatic ecosystems (Dallinger et al., 1987), thus fish
samples are considered to be one of the most indicative factors in freshwater systems,
for the estimation of trace metals pollution potential (Papagiannis et al., 2004).
The aim of the present study was to determine the metals concentrations (Pb, Zn, Ni,
and Cu) in sediments and in muscle, fin, gonads and gill tissues of Gara .
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Description of the study area
Three freshwater ecosystems Eskel Abad, Dehpabid and Bidaster are located in the city
of Khash, Sistan and Baloochestan Province, South East of Iran ( figure 1) and have a
Mediterranean climate. Geographical location of the study areas are shown in Table 1.
The selected species (Gara) are popular fishermen. This fish is an important component
of the human diet in this zone. It is silvery grey above and fins , white beneath. But, the
quality of this ecosystem has been degrading due to disturbance from human activity
(agricultural, industrial, domestic or fishing).
Since then, from literature review, no work has been carried out on the environmental
quality of sediments and biota of three aquatic ecosystems, this is why the results
obtained from this study would provide information for background levels of metals in
the sediment and fish samples, contributing to the effective monitoring of both
environmental quality and the health of the organisms inhabiting the freshwater
ecosystems.
Figure1. Map showing study areas
Table 1. The position of sampling areas
Samples
stations
Station 1:
Dehpabid
River
Station 2:
Bidaster River
Station 3:
Eskel Abad
River
Geographical
Position
28°36'29.974"N
60°46'32.297"E
28°34'30.678"N
60°48'15.228"E
28°34'26.417"N
60°48'18.903"E
Sampling and sample preparation
Sediment and fish samples were collected from three stations Eskel Abad, Dehpabid
and Bidaster in the city of Khash(South East of Iran) in spring 2013. A total of 45 fish
samples from three sampling sites were analyzed with a mean weight. Fish samples
were transported to the laboratory in box with ice. All fish samples were kept at -30°C
until analysis. Each fish was properly cleaned by rinsing with distilled water to remove
debris planktons and other external adherent. The fishes dissected to separate organs
(gill, muscle, gonads and fin) to investigate heavy metals. Next, the extracted parts were
put in the oven for 48 hours in 80˚c to be dried and Powdered completely . To digest
the fish samples, 1gr of each powdered fish sample was mixed in 10 ml pure
concentrated nitric acid (65%) and hydrochloric acid by the proportion 4:1 to digest.
Then they were put in the water bath for the next 2 hours in 140˚c to be digested. After
this, the samples were diluted using double distilled water to the volume of 50 ml and
then they were filtered using Whatman 42 micron filter paper (Abdul-Wahab and Jupp.,
2009). To determine the amount of heavy metals in fish samples (gill, muscle, gonads
and fin) 3 repetitions were picked.
Sediment samples from a depth of 15 cm were collected using steel shovel at every
station (3 repetitions) and returned to the laboratory in polyethylene bags. The
sediments were kept in oven for 3 days at 80˚c to dry off. Once sediment samples dried
they were powdered and passed through 63 μm sieve. The samples packed in
polyethylene bags and stored to analysis. The sediment samples were weighed 1g and
the same procedure, digested fish samples, was carried out for dried sediment samples.
Heavy metal concentrations were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry
Konic (FAAS) model Novaa 300 in gram in dry weight gram.
Statistical analysis
The statistical analysis was performed by SPSS software (version 14). Data were tested
for normality using Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. After making sure of data normality,
the concentration differences of each metal for every tissue (gill, gonads, fin and
muscle) and the sediments was measured using the One Way ANOVA and to separate
the groups, the Tukey-test was used. And, Microsoft Excel was used to draw the charts.
P < 0.05 was counted as being significant.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Heavy metals in sediment:
Table 2 shows the sediment quality constituents of study areas, and other global
published values in different sites. The results showed the metals concentrations in
bottom sediment varied widely and decreased in the sequence of Zn > Cu >Ni > Pb.
The data indicated that Zn was maximally accumulated in the sediment whereas Pb got
the least concentration. Metals exhibited a similar pattern of concentration as its
abundance in water. The presence of Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in sediments of sampling sites
is mostly due to anthropogenic sources as there are no sources of natural inputs in the
region. Urban and industrial developments are among the contamination sources that
directly impact sediments in these regions. Sediments act as the most important
reservoir or sink of metals and other pollutants in the aquatic environment (Gupta et al.,
2009). Heavy metal contamination in sediment can affect the water quality and
bioaccumulation of metals in aquatic organisms, resulting in potential long-term
implication on human health and ecosystem (Fernandes et al., 2007).
Table 2.Comparison of metal concentrations in sediment samples from this study and other study areas
(concentration unit is in μg g-1 dry weight)
Locality
Zn
Cu
Ni
Pb
Dehpabid
River
223.5
167.5
23.8
9.00
Bidaster
River
215.4
158.2
30.1
4.03
Eskel Abad
River
210.5
160.9
15.2
4.03
160
140
-
128
Uzunoğlu,
(1999)
28.36
20.81
-
14.0
Chale, (2002)
459
111
135
158
NOAA , 2009
-
29.98
29.99
2.44
-
727
87
620
Öztürk et al,
2009
Pote et al,
2008
-
38
17
10
Gediz
River,
Turkey
Lake
Tanganyika
PECf
Avsar Dam
Lake St
Refereces
Present study
Lake
Geneva
Lake
Texoma
An and
Kampbell,
2003
Heavy metals in fish tissues:
The mean concentrations of heavy metals in different Gara fish tissues and research
conducted are presented in Table 3. samples decreased in the sequence for the gill as
Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb; muscle as Zn > Cu > Pb >Ni ; gonad as Zn > Cu > Ni> Pb and fin
as Zn >Cu > Ni > Pb.
In this study, it is obvious that Zn has the highest concentration, while Ni and Pb have
the lowest concentration of all measured metals in fish organs. The results showed the
concentrations of metals in muscle tissue of all stations, there were significant
differences, so that the Zn had the highest concentration and Ni the lowest
concentration.
The highest concentrations Zn in fish muscle was observed at station Bidaster, but the
concentration Zn was not significantly different stations Eskel Abad and Dehpabid.
There was the lowest concentrations Cu and Pb in muscle tissue at the station Dehpabid.
Although the highest concentrations Cu and Pb achieved in stations Eskel Abad and
Bidaster but there was no significant difference. Ni concentration in muscle tissue
showed no significant differences between the 3 stations surveyed.
In the present Research, the order of metals corresponded with the results Khosravi et
al (2011) found in muscle tissue of Esox luciusn. According to the study, the
concentrations Zn in gonad tissue was significantly different at the stations Bidaster and
Dehpabid and a trend of increasing concentrations was from Ni and Pb to the Cu and
Zn.The study of heavy metals in the Trachurus mediterraneus species concluded by
Yilmaz (2003), the amount Zn was obtained in muscle 38.23 mg/kg and gonad 56
mg/kg , the data obtained in our study was far less than that of Yilmaz′s study.
By evaluating the results, we found that concentrations Zn in gill tissue had significant
differences at the stations Dehpabid and Bidaster and we have seen increasing trend
metal concentrations from Pb and Ni to the Cu and Zn.
In gill Zn followed by Cu showed higher concentrations and Pb and Ni the lowest. This
could be explained by the fact that Zn and Cu are essential elements in the bodies of
living organisms and have an important role in different physiological processes. The
concentration level in the gills could also be attributed to the fact that water always
passes through mouth and gill when the water is filtered, this is correlated with the
findings of food and agricultural organization (Adeniyi and Yusuf., 2007; (Bryan.,1971
; Sreenivasa et al., 2003). Ray et al (1990) with the evaluation of concentrations Ni,
Cu, Pb in the gills and muscle tissue of Clarris batrachus found some similar results.
The major total body part of loads accumulated at various metals concentrations in the
water and at different exposure times are found in kidney, liver and gills (Al-Mohanna,
1994; Kock et al., 1998; Giguere et al., 2004). Metal concentration in the gills could be
due to complexing of the elements with mucus, which is impossible to remove
completely from between the lamellae, before tissue analysis preparation. Thus, high
concentrations of various metals can be observed (Heath, 1987).
Results showed significant differences in Zn in fin tissue at the stations Bidaster and
Dehpabid and there was a sequence of increasing metal concentrations from Pb and Ni
to the , Cu and Zn. Results of many research indicated that metals exhibit various
affinity to fin organ (Marzouk, 1994).
Alam et al. (2002) have reported the concentrations of elements in the muscle, gill, and
gonads of cultured and wild carps caught in Lake Kasumigaura, Japan. The heavy metal
levels in Gara fish were lower than what Alam et al. have reported.
This may be due to the difference of feeding habits of the where the carps caught fish
is mainly omnivorous feeding on fish, insect larvae, mollusks, planktonic organisms
and water weeds which accumulate large amounts of heavy metals. Results of many
research indicated that metals exhibit various affinity to fin organ (Marzouk, 1994).
Table 3. Comparison of metal concentrations in the tissues of Gara fish and other studies
(concentration unit is in μg g-1 dry weight)
Element
Muscle
Fin
Gill
gonad
Species
References
Zn
4.1
3.9
4.3
4.4
Cu
3.7
1.2
1.2
1.2
Ni
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
Pb
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
Zn
4.4
3.7
3.7
3.8
Cu
4.3
1.2
1.2
1.6
Ni
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
Pb
0.9
0.1
0.1
0.1
Zn
4.3
-
-
-
Cu
4.2
-
-
-
Ni
0.4
-
-
-
Pb
0.9
-
-
-
Ni
0.63
-
1.04
-
Cyprinus carpio
0.24
-
0.26
-
0.039
-
0.14
-
Hipophthalmichthys
molitrix
Tilapia
0.15
-
0.36
-
Silver bream
Staniskiene et
al, 2006
0.09
-
0.07
-
Hipophthalmichthys
molitrix
Pakzad,
2013
1.08
-
2.06
-
Tilapia
Abdel-Baki et
al, 2011
-
53.80
-
Hipophthalmichthys
molitrix
Pakzad, 2013
41.01
14.82
-
47.39
-
Silver bream
Staniskiene et
al, 2006
38.23
-
-
56
Trachurus
mediterraneus
Dehpabid
River
Gara
Bidaster River
Eskel abad
River
Vindohini and
Narayanan,
2008
Pakzad, 2013
Pb
Cu
Zn
Abdel-Baki et
al, 2011
Yilmaz, 2003
Table 4. Comparison of metal concentrations in muscle tissue with existing standards
(concentration unit is in μg g-1 dry weight)
Standards
WHO
Zn
30
Pb
0.4
Ni
0.38
Cu
References
10
European
Commission,
2000
FDA
35
5
1
-
NHMRC
150
1.5
-
10
UK MAFF
50
2
-
20
Dehpabid
River
4.1
0.2
0.1
3.7
Eskel abad
River
4.3
0.9
0.4
4.2
Bidaster River
4.4
Pourang et al,
2004
Pourang et al,
2004
Pourang et al,
2004
Pourang et al,
2004
Present study
0.9
0.3
4.3
CONCLUSION
In natural aquatic ecosystems, heavy metals occur in low concentrations, normally at
the nanogram to microgram per liter level. Heavy metals are elements that naturally
exist. However, their concentration in different environment varies which is a result of
human activity. Human activities have many serious impacts on the environment and
some of these impacts endure for a long time.
Fish collected from area of industrial activity (Dehpabid river) and swage areas
(Bidaster river) had significantly greater concentrations of heavy metals than fish
collected from areas of agricultural activities (Eskel Abad river ). These variations in
heavy metal concentrations may be due to the nature of water source.
Muscles are the main edible part of fish and can directly influence human health.
Therefore, most governorates have established toxicological limits for heavy metals in
seafood (Agah et al., 2009).
The element levels of fish muscles in this study were below the allowable concentration
suggested by WHO, FDA, NHMRC and UK MAFF (Table4).
We can, therefore, conclude that this metal presents no problem for the consumption of
edible parts of this fish at this time. Nevertheless, in the future, bioaccumulation of
metals, especially Zn, Cu and Pb, can pose a risk for the consumption of this fish.
On the basis of this Gara fish may be considered safe for consumption but the need for
continuous monitoring to prevent bioaccumulation is necessary. It is important that
adequate monitoring of the water quality of the rivers studied should be consistently
carried out. Appropriate measure such as legislative provision and other tools for
effective and environmental monitoring should be mounted and used with a view to
protecting and enhancing the better quality and resources of these rivers.
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