Metals concentrations in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) from illegal fish farm in Al-Minufiya Province, Egypt, and their effects on some tissues structures

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 2012-10, Vol.84, p.163-172
• Main Authors: Authman, Mohammad M.N., Abbas, Wafaa T., Gaafar, Alkhateib Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal aquaculture; Animal productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Cichlids - physiology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Egypt; fish; fish farms; Fisheries; Fishes; Food Contamination; Fresh Water - chemistry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; health hazards; Histopathology; human health; humans; Illegal fish farm; ingestion; kidneys; Metals; Metals - analysis; Metals - toxicity; Muscle; muscles; Muscles - chemistry; Oreochromis niloticus; Pisciculture; pollution; public health; Vertebrate aquaculture; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2012.07.005

This study clarified the suitability of fishes caught from illegal fish farms to human consumption and their hazards to public health. For this purpose, the concentrations of some metals (Al, Cd, Pb, Hg and Ni) in water and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fish samples collected from an illegal fish farm, in addition to pathological conditions of the fish tissues, were examined. The illegal farm water was found to be heavily polluted with metals which far exceeded the permissible limits. It was found that metals accumulated in tissues of O. niloticus in concentrations higher than those of farm water. Kidney of O. niloticus contained the highest concentrations of the detected metals, while muscle and skin contained the lowest concentrations. The examination of fish tissues revealed various histopathological lesions which related directly to the pollution of the illegal farm water. Moreover, metals levels in O. niloticus muscle were higher than the maximum permissible levels for human consumption. Consequently, the flesh of fishes from the illegal farms could be considered hazardous to human health. Therefore, warning against eating fish caught from the illegal fish farms should be announced. Moreover, removal of such illegal fish farms is necessary for the public health protection. ► We determine metal levels in illegal fish farm water and O. niloticus fish organs. ► Metals accumulated in fish organs in concentrations higher than those of farm water. ► Kidney contained the highest while muscle and skin contained the lowest metal levels. ► Metals in muscle were higher than permissible concentrations for human consumption. ► Warning against eating fish caught from the illegal fish farms should be announced.