Heavy metal concentrations in the selected tissues of the Persian sturgeon, Acipencer persicus, from the southern coast of the Caspian Sea

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals including Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn in muscle, gill, liver, kidney and stomach in Acipencer persicus was studied. Fish were collected from the ‘Iranian fishery zone ۱’ located between Astara and Kiyahshahr. Samples (n=۲۵) were collected from five stations in the study area during the autumn catch season in ۲۰۰۱. Samples were analyzed by wet digestion with hydrogen peroxide and nitric acid. Analyses were testified using spike method. A sample of bovine liver (CRM ۱۸۵R) was tested to ascertain reliability of analyses. Digested samples were analyzed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The bioaccumulation pattern for Zn in different tissues studied was stomach>liver> kidney> gills>muscle tissue. The mean concentration of Zn in the stomach was ۱۳۶.۶±۱۰.۷۰mg g-۱ dry weight. Cu with the maximum concentration of ۳۹.۷۱±۸.۸۵mg g-۱ dry weight in liver showed a bioaccumulation pattern of liver>kidney>stomach>gills>muscle tissue. The bioaccumulation pattern for Pb was determined as gills>liver> kidney>stomach>muscle tissue. Maximum mean concentrations of Pb ۶.۸۷±۲.۲۵mg g-۱ dry weight belonged to gills. Bioaccumulation pattern for Cd in the different organs studied in A. persicus was kidney>liver>gills>stomach> muscle tissue. Maximum mean concentration of ۵.۱±۰.۹۷mg g-۱ dry weight belonged to kidneys and the minimum mean concentration of ۰.۰۵±۰.۰۰۷mg g-۱ dry weight belonged to muscle tissue. Concentration of the metals in the muscles samples were below the most guidelines for human consumption. Concentrations for heavy metals were lower than the guidelines in some organs and were higher than that in the other organs studied. The observed concentrations do not pose health problems as these organs are not used for human consumption.

کلیدواژه ها:

Acipencer persicus ، Heavy metals ، Muscle ، Organ ، Caspian Sea ، Iran