Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Bones, and Brains of Some Aquatic Species at the Northwestern Part of Suez Gulf

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Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Bones, and Brains of Some Aquatic Species at the Northwestern Part of Suez Gulf

ABSTRACT

Fish species have attracted considerable interest in studies assessing biological responses to environmental contaminants. In this study, the attention has been focused on fishbone and brain as a tool to detect bioaccumulation of metals, so ten fish species were collected from Suez Gulf to evaluate if toxicant elements has an effect on bone and brain which suffered negative effects due to trace element levels, detected by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentrations of Hg, Al, Zn, Pb, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, V, Cr, Co, and Ca were determined in the bone and brain of Sauridaundo squamis; Euthynnus affinis; Rhabdosargus haffara; Argyrops spinifer; Nemipterus japonicus; Oreochromis niloticus; Trachurus indicus; Peneus japonicas; Scomber japonicus and Pomadasys stridens. The results show total concentrations for metals in order of decreasing content was as follows Ca>Fe>Co>Cr>Zn>Cu>V>Mn>Al>Pb>Ni. However, mercury ranged from 0.0069 to 0.2095 μg/g wet wt. (mean value 0.1040 μg/g wet wt.), which is lower than the prescribed limits (0.4 μg/g wet wt.). Species‐specific and spatially heterogeneous patterns of tissues metals loads were apparent within the pelagic and demersal fish species for the area of study. Metal selectivity index (MSI) obtained for all the metals except Hg and Ca showed that both pelagic and demersal fish species have almost same kind of affinity towards the metals, irrespective of their feeding habit. The MSI values also indicate that the fishes have the potential to accumulate metals. High tissue selectivity index (TSI) values were reported for bone and brain for all metals suggests that the metal concentration in these tissues can serve as an indication of metal polluted environment. Fishes like Nemipterus japonicus being a favorite's food of people in this region; the high consumption of it can lead to chronic disorders as this fish has high concentration of metals.