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Assessment of copper and zinc levels in fish from freshwater ecosystems of Moldova

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this work was to assess the levels of copper and zinc in fish from the main freshwater ecosystems of Moldova, in relation with species, habitat, age, sex, season, and development stage.

Methods

Fish from Cyprinidae and Percidae families (Cyprinus carpio, Carassius auratus gibelio, Rutilus rutilus heckeli, Abramis brama, Aristichthys nobilis, Hypophtalmichthys molitrix, Sander lucioperca) were collected from Prut and Dniester rivers, Cuciurgan, Dubasari, and Costesti-Stanca reservoirs, and ponds of farms in the Dniester delta. The Cu and Zn content of fish tissues (skeletal muscles, liver, gonads, gills, skin, and scales) was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer AAS-3, of water by graphite furnace HGA 900 of AAnalist 400.

Results

The level of heavy metals accumulation in muscles of immature fish follows their dynamics in water. The highest concentration of zinc was registered in the gonads of mature fish, and of copper—in the liver. The lowest Cu and Zn contents were recorded in the muscles and are in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization safety-permissible levels for human consumption. Cu and Zn contents in muscles of fish depend on specimen age. Their level in fish gonads was sharply increasing during pre-spawning period. During the early developmental stages, the metal concentration in fish eggs and larvae varies within wide limits, but the accumulation pattern is similar in the investigated species.

Conclusions

The fish represent one of the most indicative factors for the estimation of trace metals pollution in freshwater systems and this is important not only for monitoring purposes, but also for the fish culture ones.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the support from MRDA-CRDF project MOBI-3051-CS-03, CSSDT projects 07.407.26 INDA and 09.832.08.07A; agreement cooperation contract no. 30499/7.12.2009, between “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Romania, and the Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of Moldova (coordinators: Antoaneta Ene and Elena Zubcov).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Ecotoxicology, Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, 1 Academiei St., Chisinau, 2028, Republic of Moldova

    Elena Zubcov, Natalia Zubcov & Lucia Biletchi

  2. Department of Chemistry, Physics and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 47 Domneasca St., 800008, Galati, Romania

    Antoaneta Ene

Authors
  1. Elena Zubcov
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  2. Natalia Zubcov
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  3. Antoaneta Ene
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  4. Lucia Biletchi
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Correspondence to Elena Zubcov.

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Responsible editor: Thomas Braunbeck

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Zubcov, E., Zubcov, N., Ene, A. et al. Assessment of copper and zinc levels in fish from freshwater ecosystems of Moldova. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 2238–2247 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0728-5

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