Evaluation of Cadmium and Lead Levels in Fillet Marine Fish (Otolithes Ruber and Lutjanus Johni)-From Persian Gulf Publisher



Sadeghi E¹ ; Pirsaheb M¹ ; Mohammadi M² ; Salati A³ ; Sharafi H¹ ; Mirzaei N^{4, 5} ; Bohlouli S⁶ Show Affiliations
Source: Annals of Tropical Medicine and Public Health Published:2017

Abstract

Background: Pollution of aquatic system with heavy metals is one of the important environmental problems that can make toxic marine organisms and aquatic food chain, so it is a risk factor for human health over time. Objective: The present study aimed to the evaluation of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) Levels in fillet marine fish (Otolithes ruber and Lutjanus johni) from Persian Gulf. Materials and Methods: At the first, 50 fish samples (O. ruber and L. johni) were collected during winter and spring of 2012 at three different sites from Persian Gulf. The Cd and Pb concentrations were determined with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results expressed in micrograms of metal per dry weight gram of fish (μg/g). Results: The results were validated according to the International Standards Organization 17025 accreditation. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software at the significant level of 95%. Maximum Cd and Pb concentration were seen in O. ruber (0.47 μg/g and L. johni (3.12 μg/g), respectively. No significance difference between the fish size and the metal levels for Cd was recorded in fish (P > 0.05). The relationship between the fish size and Pb level in the muscles was positive in two fish species (P < 0.05). Pb concentration was increased with increase of the length of fish, simultaneously. Conclusion: In all samples, Cd level was minimum. Pb concentrations in two fish specimens of this study exceeded FAO/WHO, IAEA-407, TFC, EC, and Chine but had not exceeded the guidelines limits except for the range of international standards. The metal accumulation in the aquatic organism may be species and size-dependent.