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Heavy metal accumulation in edible fish species from Rawal Lake Reservoir, Pakistan

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to describe the accumulation of trace metals in the liver, kidney, gills, muscles, and skin of four edible fish species (Tor putitora, Cirrhinus mrigala, Labeo calbasu, and Channa punctatus) of Rawal Lake Reservoir, Pakistan. The fish samples were collected in the pre-monsoon (May 2008) and post-monsoon (October 2007) seasons and were analyzed for heavy metals by using an atomic absorption spectrometer. Kidney and liver showed relatively high concentrations of heavy metals. The accumulation of metals in the different organs of the fish (skin, muscles, and gills) in post-monsoon was higher than in pre-monsoon. In pre-monsoon, the metals followed the trend Zn > Pb > Fe > Cr > Ni > Mn > Co > Cu > Cd > Li, while in the post-monsoon season, the trend was Fe > Pb > Cr > Ni > Zn > Cu > Co > Mn > Cd > Li. The concentrations of Ni, Cr, and Pb in the muscle of all fish species were higher than the WHO guideline values of heavy metals in fishes for human consumption except in T. putitora. Cu level was nearly equal to the WHO maximum levels in C. mrigala and L. calbasu, while it was lower in T. putitora and C. punctatus. It is strongly advocated that risk assessment studies should be conducted and there is an urgent need for water quality restoration and management of Rawal Lake Reservoir.

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Acknowledgments

This research work is conducted under the research project “Ecological Impact Assessment of Selected Wetlands of Pakistan” (project no. 02-828/RND/07), which was funded by the Higher Education Commission. The authors are grateful to the Pakistan Wetlands Programme for providing transport to Rawal Lake Reservoir for the fish sampling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, PO 45320

    Riffat Naseem Malik & Yasmin Huma

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Environmental & Resource Sciences of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, People’s Republic of China

    Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi

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  1. Riffat Naseem Malik
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  2. Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi
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  3. Yasmin Huma
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Correspondence to Riffat Naseem Malik.

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Responsible editor: Vera Slaveykova

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Malik, R.N., Hashmi, M.Z. & Huma, Y. Heavy metal accumulation in edible fish species from Rawal Lake Reservoir, Pakistan. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 1188–1196 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1992-3

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