Bioaccumulation of lead in different organs of Ctenopharyngodon Idella (grass fish) and Tor putitora (Mahseer) fish

Abstract

Bioaccumulation of toxic heavy metals in the human body can give rise to adverse health effects, the severity of which depends upon their dosage and duration of exposure. In this study, yearlings of two different species of edible fish, i.e., Tor putitora (Mahseer) and Ctenopharyngodon Idella (grass carp), were exposed to different concentrations of lead nitrate in a controlled environment of aquarium for three different lengths of duration (14, 28, and 60 days). The bioaccumulation of lead in different organs, including gills, skin, muscles, liver, intestine, and swim bladder of the fish, was assessed using atomic absorption spectrometry. Generally, the highest lead concentration was observed in the gills and lowest in the muscles for both species at each experimental dosage and duration. In 14-days exposure, the relative pattern of bioaccumulation in different organs was observed as gill > liver > skin > intestine > swim bladder > muscle for both fish species. Similarly, the pattern of bioaccumulation observed in 28-days exposure was as: gill > liver > intestine > skin > swim bladder > muscle in both species. Whereas, pattern in 60-days exposure was observed as gill > liver > intestine > swim bladder > muscle > skin. The data shows that grass carp had stored higher concentrations of lead than Mahseer, which may be attributed to the fact that they are omnivorous. Furthermore, the lowest bioaccumulation was recorded in the muscles until the 56th day of the exposure, after which the concentration steadily increased in the muscles. The observed pattern highlights the importance of exposure’s duration to lead; chronic exposure could result in its bioaccumulation at toxic concentrations in the muscles, which is particularly of concern because the fish muscles are heavily consumed as food worldwide.

Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Imported Frozen Fish Sold in ‎Damaturu and Maiduguri Fish Markets, Nigeria

“…Another plausible explanation for the lower concentration levels of the heavy metals in muscle tissues of fish compared to the other organs examined could be attributed to the fact that muscle tissue has low metal binding protein (metallothioneins). Zhang et al (2018) and Latif et al (2022) observed similar findings.…”

Environmental Health Risk Analysis of Copper Exposure to Catfish Commonly Consumed By People in Ulak Jermun Village, Ogan Komering Ilir

“…This is of particular concern because of the large consumption of fish muscle worldwide. 16 The dose response risk analysis through the ingestion route to copper risk agents is 0.04 mg/kg×day and the slope factor (SF) value is 0.04 mg/kg×day and has a critical effect on liver damage (hepatic effect). 17 Cuprum can become toxic when it exceeds a certain threshold.…”

Health benefits and health risks of contaminated fish consumption: Current research outputs, research approaches, and perspectives

“…These predatory fish can accumulate very high concentrations of methylmercury and are therefore of concern to human health. Mercury can also enter fish flesh through their gills or skin [ [70] , [71] , [72] ]. When fish breathe, they take in water that contains mercury and then it can be absorbed through the gills or skin.…”