Determination of heavy metals in fresh water fish species of the River Ravi, Pakistan compared to farmed fish varieties

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2010-08, Vol.167 (1-4), p.461-471
• Main Authors: Nawaz, Shaista, Nagra, Saeed Ahmad, Saleem, Yasar, Priydarshi, Amit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Analysis; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Aquaculture; Arsenic - analysis; Arsenic - metabolism; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; atomic absorption spectrometry; Biological and medical sciences; Cadmium; Cadmium - analysis; Cadmium - metabolism; Calcium - analysis; Calcium - metabolism; Copper; Copper - analysis; Copper - metabolism; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Electrolytes; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Farms; Fish; Fish farms; Fisheries; Fishes - metabolism; Fresh water; Freshwater; Freshwater fish; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heavy metals; Laboratories; Lead; Lead - analysis; Lead - metabolism; Mercury; Mercury - analysis; Mercury - metabolism; Metal concentrations; Metals; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Metals, Heavy - metabolism; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Oil and gas exploration; Pakistan; Pakistani fish; Potassium - analysis; Potassium - metabolism; Respiratory function; River Ravi; Rivers; Science; Sewage; Shallow water; Sodium - analysis; Sodium - metabolism; Studies; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Zinc - analysis; Zinc - metabolism
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-009-1064-9

The untreated industrial and sewage wastes arising from industries and metropolitan activities make their passage to the River Ravi, Pakistan, where Balloki Headworks is one of the major sites of effluent concentration. This study was designed to evaluate the concentration of various toxic elements in fishes of that area compared to a nearby fish farm. The concentrations of heavy metals, such as As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg, and Zn, and electrolytes Ca, K, and Na were determined in different edible and non-edible fresh water fish varieties. Fish samples were collected from two selected sites and were analyzed for aforementioned elements. Higher levels of As (35.74-45.33 ppm), Cd (0.35-0.45 ppm), Pb (2.1-3.0 ppm), Hg (83.03-92.35 ppm) while normal levels of Zn (37.85-40.74 ppm) and Cu (1.39-2.93 ppm) were observed. Mercury, higher levels of which trigger cough, impairment of pulmonary function, and psychotic reactions, was significantly higher in all studied categories. At the sites under study, there has been observed alarming levels of toxic metals which are needed to be monitored regularly.