Abstract

HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATION ANALYSES IN THE FISHES OF URANDHUR WATERS OF SRIKALAHASTI, ANDHRA PRADESH

Dr. P. Manohar* and Dr. G. Swathi

Abstract

Although fish is an important source of protein, they are currently affected by rapid industrialization and mechanized agricultural activities resulting in increased concentration of heavy metals in the fish. Due the discharge of effluents either directly or in directly into the waters, heavy metals like Pb and Cd can bio accumulate in aquatic biota (US EPA 19991) bio magnify in the food chains. Bio accumulation of metals reflects the amount ingested the organisms, the way in which the metals are distributed among the different tissues and the extent to which the metals retained in each tissue type (Murugan et al; 2008). In light of the above, the present study seeks to investigate the concentrations of heavy metals namely Pb and Cd and they were estimated in the muscle, liver and gills of different species of commercially important fish collected from the fresh waters of major tank/pond of Urandhur which predominantly supplies different fish species for the consumption of people of Srikalahasti. The results showed that the muscle had the lowest concentration of Pb and Cd metals compared to liver and gills in different species of fish studied. Among the estimated heavy metals concentrations Pb and Cd were highest and lowest respectively for different fish species in liver, gills and muscle. The Pb and Cd values studied in organs of different fish species are found to be within the tolerable limits as compared to the standard levels specified by WHO/FAO and FSSAI. Hence at the current values both Pb and Cd heavy metal concentrations would not pose any risk and health hazard to the consumers.

Keywords: Although fish is activities Urandhur consumption of people of Srikalahasti.