Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Determination of heavy metals in fresh water fish species of the River Ravi, Pakistan compared to farmed fish varieties

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 17 October 2009

Abstract

The untreated industrial and sewage wastes arising from industries and metropolitan activities make their passage to the River Ravi, Pakistan, where Balloki Headworks is one of the major sites of effluent concentration. This study was designed to evaluate the concentration of various toxic elements in fishes of that area compared to a nearby fish farm. The concentrations of heavy metals, such as As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg, and Zn, and electrolytes Ca, K, and Na were determined in different edible and non-edible fresh water fish varieties. Fish samples were collected from two selected sites and were analyzed for aforementioned elements. Higher levels of As (35.74–45.33 ppm), Cd (0.35–0.45 ppm), Pb (2.1–3.0 ppm), Hg (83.03–92.35 ppm) while normal levels of Zn (37.85–40.74 ppm) and Cu (1.39–2.93 ppm) were observed. Mercury, higher levels of which trigger cough, impairment of pulmonary function, and psychotic reactions, was significantly higher in all studied categories. At the sites under study, there has been observed alarming levels of toxic metals which are needed to be monitored regularly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altindag, A., & Yigit, S. (2005). Assessment of heavy metal concentrations in the food web of lake Beysehir, Turkey. Chemosphere, 60(4), 552–556.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arain, M. B., Kazi, T. G., Jamali, M. K., Jalbani, N., Afridi, H. I., Sarfraz, R. A., et al. (2007). Determination of toxic elements in muscle tissues of five fish species using ultrasound-assisted pseudodigestion by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry: Optimization study. Spectroscopy Letters, 40(6), 861–878.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ashraf, M., & Jaffar, M. (1988). Correlation between some selected trace metal concentrations in six species of fish from the Arabian Sea. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 41(1), 86–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ashraf, W., Seddigi, Z., Abulkibash, A., & Khalid, M. (2006). Levels of selected metals in canned fish consumed in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 117(1), 271–279.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boncompagni, E., Muhammad, A., Jabeen, R., Orvini, E., Gandini, C., Sanpera, C., et al. (2003). Egrets as monitors of trace-metal contamination in Wetlands of Pakistan. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 45(3), 399–406.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canli, M., Kalay, M., & Ay, Ö. (2001). Metal (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cr, Ni) concentrations in tissues of a fish Sardina pilchardus and a prawn Peaenus japonicus from three stations on the Mediterranean Sea. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 67(1), 75–82.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, T., Que Hee, S. S., & Ambrose, R. F. (2001). Trace metals in fish and invertebrates of three California Coastal Wetlands. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 42(3), 224–232.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farooqi, A., Masuda, H., & Firdous, N. (2007). Toxic fluoride and arsenic contaminated groundwater in the Lahore and Kasur districts, Punjab, Pakistan and possible contaminant sources. Environmental Pollution, 145, 839–849.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farooqi, A., Masuda, H., Siddiqui, R., & Naseem, M. (2009). Sources of arsenic and fluoride in highly contaminated soils causing groundwater contamination in Punjab, Pakistan. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 56, 693–706.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farkas, A., Salanki, J., & Varanka, I. (2000). Heavy metal concentrations in fish of Lake Balaton. Lakes & Reservoirs: Research & Management, 5(4), 271–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fidan, A. F., Ciğerci, İ. H., Konuk, M., Küçükkurt, İ., Aslan, R., & Dündar, Y. (2008). Determination of some heavy metal levels and oxidative status in Carassius carassius L., 1758 from Eber Lake. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 147(1), 35–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gale, N., Adams, C., Wixson, B., Loftin, K. & Huang, Y.-W. (2004). Lead, zinc, copper, and cadmium in fish and sediments from the big river and flat river creek of Missouri’s old lead belt. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 26(1), 37–49.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heiny, J. S., & Tate, C. M. (1997). Concentration, distribution, and comparison of selected trace elements in bed sediment and fish tissue in the South Platte River Basin, U.S.A., 1992–1993. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 32(3), 246–259.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Javed, M. (2005). Heavy metal contamination of freshwater fish and bed sediments in the River Ravi Stretch and related tributaries. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 8(10), 1337–1341.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leal, M. C. F., Vasconcelos, M. T., Sousa-Pinto, I., & Cabral, J. P. S. (1997). Biomonitoring with benthic macroalgae and direct assay of heavy metals in seawater of the Oporto coast (northwest Portugal). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 34(12), 1006–1015.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, B. R., Atchison, G. J., McIntosh, A. W., & Kolar, D. J. (1978). Cadmium and zinc content of fish from an industrially contaminated lake. Journal of Fish Biology, 13(3), 327–335.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rashed, M. N. (2001). Cadmium and lead levels in fish (Tilapia nilotica) tissues as biological indicator for lake water pollution. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 68(1), 75–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Storelli, M. M., & Marcotrigiano, G. O. (2000). Organic and inorganic arsenic and lead in fish from the South Adriatic Sea, Italy. Food Additives and Contaminants, 17(9), 763–768.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Storelli, M. M., Ceci, E., Storelli, A., & Marcotrigiano, G. O. (2003). Polychlorinated biphenyl, heavy metal and methylmercury residues in hammerhead sharks: Contaminant status and assessment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46(8), 1035–1039.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Storelli, M. M., Giacominelli-Stuffler, R., Storelli, A., & Marcotrigiano, G. O. (2005). Accumulation of mercury, cadmium, lead and arsenic in swordfish and bluefin tuna from the Mediterranean Sea: A comparative study. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 50(9), 1004–1007.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swaibuh Lwanga, M., Kansiime, F., Denny, P., & Scullion, J. (2003). Heavy metals in Lake George, Uganda, with relation to metal concentrations in tissues of common fish species. Hydrobiologia, 499(1), 83–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tariq, J., & Jaffar, M. (1993). Selected trace metals in fish, sediments and water from freshwater Tarbella reservoir, Pakistan. Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry, 39, 201–205.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tuzen, M. (2003). Determination of heavy metals in fish samples of the middle Black Sea (Turkey) by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Food Chemistry, 80(1), 119–123.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vives, A. E. S., Moreira, S., Brienza, S. M. B., Zucchi, O. L. A. D., & Nascimento Filho, V. F. (2006). Analysis of fish samples for environmental monitoring and food safety assessment by synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 270(1), 231–236.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Voegborlo, R. B., El-Methnani, A. M., & Abedin, M. Z. (1999). Mercury, cadmium and lead content of canned tuna fish. Food Chemistry, 67(4), 341–345.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Meat Research Laboratory, Food and Biotechnology Research Centre, PCSIR Labs Complex, Ferozpur Road, Lahore, Pakistan

    Shaista Nawaz

  2. Institute of Chemistry, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

    Saeed Ahmad Nagra

  3. Centre for Neural Sciences, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), 39-1 Hawolgok Dong, Seongbuk Gu, 136-791, Seoul, South Korea

    Yasar Saleem

  4. Biomedical Research Centre, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), 39-1 Hawolgok Dong, Seongbuk Gu, 136-791, Seoul, South Korea

    Amit Priydarshi

  5. Department of Biomolecular Science, University of Science and Technology, 113 Gwahangno, Yuseong-gu, 305-333, Daejeon, South Korea

    Yasar Saleem & Amit Priydarshi

Authors
  1. Shaista Nawaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Saeed Ahmad Nagra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yasar Saleem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Amit Priydarshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shaista Nawaz.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1175-3

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nawaz, S., Nagra, S.A., Saleem, Y. et al. Determination of heavy metals in fresh water fish species of the River Ravi, Pakistan compared to farmed fish varieties. Environ Monit Assess 167, 461–471 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1064-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1064-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation