Heavy metal accumulation in some aquatic insects (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) and tissues of Chondrostoma regium (Heckel, 1843) relevant to their concentration in water and sediments from Karasu River, Erzurum, Turkey

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2017-04, Vol.24 (10), p.9566-9574
• Main Authors: Aydoğan, Zeynep, Şişman, Turgay, İncekara, Ümit, Gürol, Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal tissues; Animals; Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic insects; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bioaccumulation; Coleoptera; Consumption; Contaminated sediments; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental science; Fish; Food chains; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Health hazards; Heavy metals; Humans; Insects; International standards; Lead; Mass spectrometry; Metals, Heavy; Nutrition research; Pollutants; Pollution; Research Article; Rivers - chemistry; Sediments; Studies; Turkey; Waste Water Technology; Water; Water analysis; Water Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water pollution; Water Pollution Control; X-ray fluorescence
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-8629-x

The objectives of this research were to determine and compare the heavy element concentrations in two study areas in Erzurum, Turkey (Aşkale and Dumlu sites). Assessment of some heavy elements in sediment, water, fish ( Chondrostoma regium ) tissues, and some aquatic insects (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) were carried out in June to August 2014. Heavy element levels in aquatic insect samples and their associated water and sediment were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer. Fish tissues, from the same habitat, were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Eleven elements (Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb) were measured in fish tissues, and 14 elements (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Br, Pb) were measured in insects. According to the results, it can be said that insects were contaminated by water and sediment, thus accumulated higher concentration of some elements than their environment. The fish, which was caught from Aşkale station, accumulates significantly higher level of heavy metals than Dumlu station’s fish. The results were compared with national and international standards. The values of some heavy elements were found at higher concentration than the acceptable limits. The possible consequences of these results are briefly discussed from the point of potential hazards to ecology and human health. Element concentrations in fish tissue are below the limits, which are proposed by Turkish Food Codex, FAO/WHO, and EC, and safe for human consumption in the edible parts of fish species in the regions.