In the present study some of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cu, Fe, Cd and Ni) were seasonally determined from march 2008 to February 2009 in three different tissues (gonads, gills and muscle) of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L., 1758) from Izdihar dam of Sidi abdelli (Tlemcen department) which is an important water source for irrigation and drinking in northwest part of Algeria (Tlemcen). Heavy metals in fish samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) after wet digestion by MALAIYANDI and BARETTE method. One-way ANOVA and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to compare the data among seasons (level of 0,05). Mean concentrations were found to decrease in sequence of Cyprinus carpio samples, in gonads and gills as Zn > Fe > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cd, in muscle as Zn> Pb > Fe > Ni > Cu > Cd. In samples heavy metals concentrations exceeded the tolerable values provided by international institutions (AIEA-407). The highest metals concentrations were found in gills followed by gonads and muscle. Heavy metal levels in tissues of carp were decreased in winter. The obtained results showed that the average values of Zn (80,30 ± 21,00 mg.kg-1) and Ni (6,95 ± 0,19 mg.kg-1) were at the highest levels in spring. The highest Pb, Cu and Fe levels were measured in the winter as 7,53 ± 214, 5,31 ± 0,03 and 22,12 ± 16,06 mg.kg-1 respectively. The highest Cd levels were recorded in summer as 3,29 ± 0,69 mg.kg-1. For each metal significant differences were found between different seasons (P < 0,05). The present study shows that precautions need to be taken in Izdihar dam in order to prevent heavy metal pollution that can occur in the future.
