Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Heavy metals bioaccumulation in marine cultured fish and its probabilistic health hazard

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In aquacultures, heavy metals could be accumulated in fish tissues from natural and human-related sources depending on different factors. This study aims to estimate the level of bioaccumulation of heavy metals in cultured Gilt-head sea bream Sparusaurata. In this regard, heavy metals concentrations were measured in both water and fish musculature that were collected from a private fish farm in Kafr ElSheikh, Egypt. Regarding the water samples, heavy metals were within the permissible limits with exception of Cd, Cu, and Zn. In fish musculature, all heavy metals were within the WHO/FAO permissible limits. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) indicated that mostly all heavy metals accumulation in the Gilt-head sea bream musculature decreased with time which may be correlated with the increase in water pH, calcium, and other cations concentrations. The hazard index (HI) calculations indicate no adverse health effects of heavy metals on humans through daily fish consumption so far. However, health risks are not negligible making the regular monitoring of metal contaminants in the studied area a necessity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data generalized or analyzed during this study are included in this article.

References

  • Adolfsson-Erici M, Åkerman G, Mclachlan MS (2012) Measuring bioconcentration factors in fish using exposure to multiple chemicals and internal benchmarking to correct for growth dilution. Environ Toxicol Chem 31:1853–1860. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.1897

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed M, Hashem D, Ahmed S, Khalid N (2019) Monitoring of pesticide residues in cucumber samples marketed in Egypt. J Plant Prot Pathol. https://doi.org/10.21608/jppp.2019.40933

  • APHA (2017) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 23rd edn. American Public Health Association

  • Arantzamendi L, Roo F, Hernández-Cruz CM, Fernández-Palacios H, Izquierdo M (2019) Lipid digestion capacity in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) from first feeding to commercial size. Fish Physiol Biochem 45:469–484. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-018-0577-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baki MA, Shojib MFH, Sehrin S, Chakraborty S, Choudhury TR, Bristy MS, Ahmed MK, Yusoff SB, Khan MF (2020) Health risk assessment of heavy metal accumulation in the Buriganga and Turag River systems for Puntius ticto, Heteropneustes fossilis, and Channa punctatus. Environ Geochem Health 42:531–543. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00386-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bawuro AA, Voegborlo RB, Adimado AA (2018) Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in some tissues of fish in Lake Geriyo, Adamawa State, Nigeria. J Environ Public Health 2018:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1854892

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhatia A, Singh S, Kumar A (2015) Heavy metal contamination of soil, irrigation water and vegetables in peri-urban agricultural areas and markets of Delhi. Water Environ Res 87:2027–2034. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143015x14362865226833

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd C (1998) Water quality for ponds aquaculture. In: Marion JE (ed) Research and development series, 43 edn. International Center for Aquaculture and Aquatic Environment, Auburn University, Alabama, p 37

  • Canli M, Atli G (2003) The relationships between heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn) levels and the size of six Mediterranean fish species. Environ Pollut 121:129–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0269-7491(02)00194-X

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chai M, Li R, Gong Y, Shen X, Yu L (2021) Bioaccessibility-corrected health risk of heavy metal exposure via shellfish consumption in coastal region of China. Environ Pollut 273:116529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116529

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Demirak A, Yilmaz F, Levent Tuna A, Ozdemir N (2006) Heavy metals in water, sediment and tissues of Leuciscus cephalus from a stream in southwestern Turkey. Chemosphere. 63:1451–1458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.09.033

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eissa F, Ghanem K, Al-Sisi M (2020) Occurrence and human health risks of pesticides and antibiotics in Nile tilapia along the Rosetta Nile branch, Egypt. Toxicol Rep 7:1640–1646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.03.004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elnabris KJ, Muzyed SK, El-Ashgar NM (2013) Heavy metal concentrations in some commercially important fishes and their contribution to heavy metals exposure in palestinian people of Gaza Strip (Palestine). J Assoc Arab Univ Basic Appl Sci 13:44–51

  • Eltweri AM, Thomas AL, Metcalfe M, Calder PC, Dennison AR, Bowrey DJ (2017) Potential applications of fish oils rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the management of gastrointestinal cancer. Clin Nutr 36:65–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (1983) Compilation of legal limits for hazardous substances in fish and fishery product. Library (Lond) 764:102

  • Fernandes C, Fontaínhas-Fernandes A, Cabral D, Salgado MA (2008) Heavy metals in water, sediment and tissues of Liza saliens from Esmoriz-Paramos lagoon, Portugal. Environ Monit Assess 136:267–275

  • Görür FK, Keser R, Akçay N, Dizman S (2012) Radioactivity and heavy metal concentrations of some commercial fish species consumed in the Black Sea Region of Turkey. Chemosphere. 87:356–361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.12.022

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hidayati NV, Prudent P, Asia L, Vassalo L, Torre F, Widowati I, Sabdono A, Syakti AD, Doumenq P (2020) Assessment of the ecological and human health risks from metals in shrimp aquaculture environments in Central Java, Indonesia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27:41668–41687. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09967-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jabeen F, Chaudhry AS (2010) Environmental impacts of anthropogenic activities on the mineral uptake in Oreochromis mossambicus from Indus River in Pakistan. Environ Monit Assess 166:641–651. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1029-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Javed M, Usmani N (2016) Accumulation of heavy metals and human health risk assessment via the consumption of freshwater fish Mastacembelus armatus inhabiting, thermal power plant effluent loaded canal. Springerplus. 5:776. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-016-2471-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jezierska B, Witeska M (2007) The metal uptake and accumulation in fish living in polluted waters. Soil and Water Pollution Monitoring, Protection and Remediation, pp 3–23

  • Jia Y, Wang L, Qu Z, Wang C, Yang Z (2017) Effects on heavy metal accumulation in freshwater fishes: species, tissues, and sizes. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:9379–9386. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8606-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kamzati LLJ, Kaonga CC, Mapoma HWT, Thulu FG, Abdel-dayem SM, Anifowose AJ, Chidya RCG, Chitete-Mawenda U, Sakugawa H (2020) Heavy metals in water, sediment, fish and associated risks from an endorheic lake located in Southern Africa. Int J Environ Sci Technol 17:253–266. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-019-02464-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khallaf EA, Authman MMN, Alne-Na-Ei AA (2018) Contamination and ecological hazard assessment of heavy metals in freshwater sediments and Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) fish muscles in a Nile River Canal in Egypt. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25:13796–13812. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1521-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lipy EP, Hakim M, Mohanta LC, Islam D, Lyzu C, Roy DC, Jahan I, Akhter S, Raknuzzaman M, Abu Sayed M (2021) Assessment of heavy metal concentration in water, sediment and common fish species of Dhaleshwari River in Bangladesh and their health implications. Biol Trace Elem Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02552-7

  • Lopes TOM, Passos LS, Vieira LV, Pinto E, Dorr F, Scherer R, de Andrade Salustriano N, Carneiro MTWD, Postay LF, Gomes LC (2020) Metals, arsenic, pesticides, and microcystins in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from aquaculture parks in Brazil. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27:20187–20200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08493-x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McGeer J, Henningsen G, Lanno R, et al (2004) Issue paper on the bioavailability and bioaccumulation of metals. In: US Environmental Protection Agency risk assessment forum, vol 1200

  • Mojoudi N, Mojoudi F, Kafilzadeh F (2013) Investigate of accumulation the heavy metals Cd, Pb, and Zn in liver and muscle tissues Capoeta trutta fish from Dez River, southwest Iran. Int J Biosci. https://doi.org/10.12692/ijb/3.8.325-331

  • Noga EJ (2010) Fish disease: diagnosis and treatment. John Wiley and Sons, Ames, pp 13–48, 143–147, 375–420

  • Perumal S, Thirunavukkarasu A, Pachiappan P (2015) Advances in marine and brackishwater aquaculture. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2271-2_8

  • Qadir A, Malik RN (2011) Heavy metals in eight edible fish species from two polluted tributaries (Aik and Palkhu) of the river Chenab, Pakistan. Biol Trace Elem Res 143:1524–1540. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9011-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qian Y, Cheng C, Feng H, Hong Z, Zhu Q, Kolenčík M, Chang X (2020) Assessment of metal mobility in sediment, commercial fish accumulation and impact on human health risk in a large shallow plateau lake in southwest of China. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 194:110346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110346

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Renieri EA, Safenkova IV, Alegakis A et al (2019) Cadmium, lead and mercury in muscle tissue of gilthead seabream and seabass: risk evaluation for consumers. Food Chem Toxicol 124:439–449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2018.12.020

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rubalingeswari N, Thulasimala D, Giridharan L, Gopal V, Magesh NS, Jayaprakash M (2021) Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in water, sediment, and tissues of major fisheries from Adyar estuary, southeast coast of India: an ecotoxicological impact of a metropolitan city. Mar Pollut Bull 163:111964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111964

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sadeghi P, Loghmani M, Frokhzad S (2020) Human health risk assessment of heavy metals via consumption of commercial marine fish (Thunnus albacares, Euthynnus affinis, and Katsuwonus pelamis) in Oman Sea. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27:14944–14952. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-07907-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shaaban NA, El-Rayis OA, Aboeleneen MS (2021) Possible human health risk of some heavy metals from consumption of tilapia fish from Lake Mariut, Egypt. Environ Sci Pollut Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-12121-z

  • Shinn C, Dauba F, Grenouillet G, Guenard G, Lek S (2009) Temporal variation of heavy metal contamination in fish of the river lot in southern France. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 72:1957–1965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2009.06.007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Töre Y, Ustaoğlu F, Tepe Y, Kalipci E (2021) Levels of toxic metals in edible fish species of the Tigris River (Turkey); threat to public health. Ecol Indic 123:107361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107361

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tüzen M (2003) Determination of heavy metals in fish samples of the middle Black Sea (Turkey) by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Food Chem 80:119–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(02)00264-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (1988) Water quality standards criteria summaries: a compilation of State/Federal Criteria | US Environmental Proteection Agency. In: Washington, DC

  • USEPA (2000) Water quality conditions in the United States: a profile from the 2000 National Water Quality Inventory. 2000 Natl Water Qual Invent

  • WHO (2004) Guidelines for drinking-water quality. World Health Organization 1:1–668

  • WHO/FAO (1989) National Research Council Recommended Dietary 626 Allowances (10th ed). World Health Organization / Food and Agriculture Organization for United States, Washington, DC, USA

  • Woo PT, Leatherland JF, (2006) Fish diseases and disorders III:Viral, Bacterial and Fungal infections. 2nd edition. CABI. Walligford, Oxfordshire, p 940

  • Yin J, Wang L, Liu Q, Li S, Li J, Zhang X (2020) Metal concentrations in fish from nine lakes of Anhui Province and the health risk assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27:20117–20124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08368-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hygiene and Veterinary Care Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh, 13736, Egypt

    Halla E. K. El Bahgy

  2. National Center for International Research, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People’s Republic of China

    Halla E. K. El Bahgy

  3. Aquatic Animals Diseases and Management Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh, 13736, Egypt

    Hiam Elabd

  4. Central Laboratory for Environmental Quality Monitoring (CLEQM), National Water Research Center (NWRC), Cairo, Egypt

    Reham M. Elkorashey

Authors
  1. Halla E. K. El Bahgy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hiam Elabd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Reham M. Elkorashey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

HEKE, HE, and RME designed the concept for this research and scientific paper. HEKE has sampled, analyzed the data, and interpreted the result. RME provided instrumentation and reagents in laboratory. All authors participated in manuscript’s draft and revision. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Halla E. K. El Bahgy or Reham M. Elkorashey.

Ethics declarations

Consent to participate and publish

All authors have approved to participate and publish this scientific work.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Lotfi Aleya

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

El Bahgy, H.E.K., Elabd, H. & Elkorashey, R.M. Heavy metals bioaccumulation in marine cultured fish and its probabilistic health hazard. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 41431–41438 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13645-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13645-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation