Annals of Biological Research
Abstract
Author(s): Bhupander Kumar, D. P. Mukherjee, Sanjay Kumar, Meenu Mishra, Dev Prakash, S.K. Singh and C. S. Sharma
Heavy metals i.e. Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Cadmium (Cd), Nickel
(Ni), Mercury (Hg) and Arsenic (As) were analyzed in 35 samples of the fish muscle, from East
Kolkata Wetlands (EKW). The concentration of heavy metals was in order of, Fe > Zn > Cu >
Mn > Ni > As > Hg > Cd. The essential metals, such as iron, zinc, copper and manganese were
in higher concentrations and, the non-essential and toxic metals such as cadmium, nickel,
mercury and arsenic were generally low. The bioaccumulation pattern of metals in different
species of fishes was as: Hypophthalmichthys molitrix > Oreochromis nilotica > Labeo rohita >
O. mossambica > Channa marulius > Catla catla > Punctius ticto. The Pearson�¢����s moment
correlation coefficients among heavy metal were investigated and presented. This study revealed
that fishes from the East Kolkata Wetland (EKW) may not be harmful to consumers since; levels
of heavy metals were below the permissible limits issued by FAO/WHO. However, intensive
study on fishes is a need to determine the bioaccumulation of heavy metals and other toxic
pollutants i.e. pesticides, PCBs, PAHs, and dioxins in this area.
