Heavy Metals Concentration in Four Commercially Valuable Marine Edible Fish Species from Parangipettai Coast, South East Coast of India

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1 International Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 1(1): 10-14, 2009 ISSN: Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2009 Heavy Metals Concentration in Four Commercially Valuable Marine Edible Fish Species from Parangipettai Coast, South East Coast of India 1 P. Raja, 2 S. Veerasingam, 2 G. Suresh, 1 G. Marichamy and 1 R. Venkatachalapathy 1 CAS in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai , India 2 Department of Physics, Annamalai University, Annamalai nagar India Abstract: Concentrations of Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), Copper(Cu), Iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Cobalt (Co), Zinc (Zn) and Aluminium(Al) were determined in four edible part of the marine fish species (Nematolosa nasus, Aleper para, Atropus atropus and Parastromateus niger) from Parangipettai Coast, south east coast of India in September 2008 to understand the toxicity of such heavy metals. Heavy metal concentrations were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). Concentrations of the heavy metals in examined fish species ranged as follows: Cr ; Cd ; Cu ; Fe ; Mg ; Mn ; Ni ; Co ; Zn and Al g/g. Cd concentration increases gradually as weight and length of the fish increases. Heavy metals in the edible parts of the investigated fish were in the permissible safety levels for human uses. Key words: Heavy metals, Marine edible fishes, Parangipettai coast India INTRODUCTION The seas and oceans, which cover 70% of the world s surface, are one of the man s great hopes for future food supplies. As human populations multiply and industrialization increases, the problems of environmental pollution become more critical (Jerome and Williams, 1979). Heavy metals enter the aquatic environment naturally through weathering of the earths crust. In addition to geological weathering, human activities have also introduced large quantities of metals to local water bodies, thereby disturbing the natural balance in the ecosystem ( Forstner and Wittmann, 1983). Sea foods have essential amino acids, fatty acids, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Among sea foods, fish are commonly consumed and, hence, are a connecting link for the transfer of toxic heavy metals in human beings. Puel et al, (1987) reported that, heavy metals have the tendency to accumulate in various organs of marine organisms, especially fish, which in turn may enter into the human metabolism through consumption causing serious health hazards. Fishes are major part of the human diet and it is therefore not surprising that numerous studies have been carried out on metal pollution in different species of edible fish (Karadede and Unlu, 2000; Prudente et al., 1997; Unlu et al., 1996 and Erdogrul and Ates, 2006). Predominantly, fish toxicological and environmental studies have prompted interest in the determination of toxic elements in seafood (Waqar, 2006). Industrial effluents, agricultural runoffs, transport, burning of fossil fuels, animal and human excretions and geologic weathering and domestic waste contribute to the heavy metals in the water bodies (Adnano, 1986). Heavy metals are critical in this regard because of their easy uptake into the food chain and bioaccumulation processes (Beijer and Jernelov, 1986). The present study was undertaken to study the concentration levels of selected trace metals in commercially important fish species and correlate the concentration of metals with respect to their weight and length. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Area: The present study area, Parangipettai (Porto Novo) is located in south east coast of India (Fig.1). It is situated on the north bank of the mouth of the Vellar river at a distance of 50 km from Puducherry. Due to its geographical position on the Coromandel Coast, Parangipettai has long been a major trading centre. Parangipettai landing centre is one of the famous fish trade centre in cuddalore district. Sampling: There are fifteen fish samples from each kind of fish species were collected from Parangipettai landing centre (Lat: 11.50º N; Lon: 79.77º E). Samples selected for analysis were Nematolosa nasus, Aleper para, Atropus atropus and Parastromateus niger. These are commercially important and nutrient fish species. The samples were collected in sterile polythene bags and kept in the laboratory deep freezer (-20ºC) to prevent deterioration till further analysis. Sample Preparation: Fish samples were cleaned with sterile distilled water and then dissected. In the laboratory Corresponding Author: G.Suresh, Department of Physics, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar India 10

2 Fig.1. Location of Study Area they were thawed, identified and the total length and weight were noted. Tissue was taken and dried at 70º C until a constant weight was obtained. The fish edible muscle was analyzed after Analytical Methods Committee (1960), by using mixture of 5 ml (65%) HNO 3 and 0.5 ml HClO 4 (70%). After cooling, each sample was redissolved in 5% HNO 3 (v/v) and filtered through whatmann No. 40 filter paper and was diluted to 25ml with 5% HNO 3 prior to analysis by using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (Perkin Elmer Optima 2100DV) in Centre of Advanced study in Marine Biology, Parangipettai. Blank solution was prepared for the background correction. RESULTS The length and weight of collected fish species have shown in table 1. From the table, the highest and lowest lengths and weights were observed in Parastromateus niger and Aleper para respectively. The significant Table 1. Length and Weight of collected Fin fishes Species Length (cm) Weight (g) Mean Min Max Mean Min Max Nematolosa nasus Aleper para Atropus atropus Parastromateus niger

3 Table 2. Concentration of heavy metals in fish collected from Parangipettai coast. Metals and Species N Heavy metal concentrations ( g/g) Mean Minimum Maximum Aluminum Nematolosa nasus Aleper para Atropus atropus Parastromateus niger Iron Nematolosa nasus Aleper para Atropus atropus Parastromateus niger Magnesium Nematolosa nasus Aleper para Atropus atropus Parastromateus niger Manganese Nematolosa nasus Aleper para Atropus atropus Parastromateus niger Copper Nematolosa nasus Aleper para Atropus atropus Parastromateus niger Chromium Nematolosa nasus Aleper para Atropus atropus Parastromateus niger Cadmium Nematolosa nasus Aleper para Atropus atropus Parastromateus niger Nickel Nematolosa nasus Aleper para Atropus atropus Parastromateus niger Cobalt Nematolosa nasus Aleper para Atropus atropus Parastromateus niger Zink Nematolosa nasus Aleper para Atropus atropus Parastromateus niger positive correlation (r = 0.94) was obtained between length and weight of these species. The concentration of heavy metals detected in the samples has given in Table 2. The maximum and minimum concentration of Fe was obtained in Nematolosa nasus and Aleper para. The maximum concentration of Cd, Al, Cu and Ni were noted in Parastromateus niger. Nematolosa nasus had highest concentration of Cr, Mg, Co and Mn. The maximum concentration of Zn was observed in Aleper para. The minimum concentrations of Al, Cr, Cu, Mn, Co and Ni were observed in Aleper para. Minimum concentration of Cd was noted in Nematolosa nasus and Atropus atropus. The lowest concentrations of Zn and Mg were observed in Aleper para and Parastromateus niger respectively. In order to understand inter relation among the measured elements, Pearson correlation analysis was carried out using SPSS for windows 16.0 software and is shown in table 3 as the linear correlation matrix. Correlation coefficient between the pairs of metals is also shown in same table. DISCUSSION Hazard level of metals: Among the different metals analyzed Cadmium, Chromium and Nickel are classified as chemical hazards and maximum residual levels have 12

4 Table 3: Comparison of heavy metal concentrations ( g/g) in fish with values taken from the open literature Sample area Fe Mn Cu Cr Cd Co Ni Zn References Mediterranean Sea, Kalay et al. (1999) Masan Bay, Korea Kwon and Lee (2001) California Lagoons Tamira et al. (2001) Middle Black Sea Tu zen (2002) Black Sea Coast < < < < Topcuoglu et al. (2002) Kerguelen Islands Bustamante et al. (2003) Mediterranean Sea, Canl and A tl 2000 (2003) Iskenderun Bay, Y lmaz (2003) Parangipettai Coast, Present study India, 2008 Table 4: Permissible limits ( g/g) for heavy metals recommended by various organizations Element EC, 2001 FDA, 2001 FAO, 1983 Cadmium (fish) 3 (Crustacean) (crustaceans) 4(Clam oysters and mussels) 1.0 (Bivalves and cephalopods) Chromium - 12 (Crustacean) - 13(Clam oysters and mussels) Nickel 70 (Crustacean) - 80(Clam oysters and mussels) Copper Zinc Table 5 : Correlation coefficient matrix. Al Fe Mg Mn Cu Cr Cd Ni Co Zn Al 1 Fe Mg Mn Cu Cr Cd Ni Co Zn been prescribed for human (FAO, 1983; EC, 2001; FDA, 2001). In this study, Cd contents (0.5 g/g) in the samples were much less than the permitted level ( ) (FAO, 1983). Cr and Ni concentrations are also much less than the permitted level (Table 4). In the present study all the metal concentrations are below the European Commission report limit while as far FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) limit is concerned none of the samples contained above the prescribed limits. Inter elemental correlation analysis: From the correlation table (Table 5), the Al is highly correlated with Mn, Cu, Cd and Ni but Fe has significant correlation with Mg, Cr and Co. Magnesium and Manganese are correlated both Cr and Co. Chromium is positively correlated with Cd and Ni, but none of the element is correlated with Zn in the present study. The length and weight is positively correlated with concentration of Cd. That is Cd concentrations increases gradually as weight and length increases. CONCLUSION Present study provides new information on the concentration of heavy metals in fish from Parangipettai coast. Based on the sample analysis, metal concentrations found in the edible part of fish are not heavily burdened with metals, and the concentrations are below both EC and FDA limit. The concentrations of heavy metals in muscle in the four species studied were considerably lower than the maximum levels set by law and, therefore, the muscle of the most of the samples analyzed were fit for human consumption in this region. Even though, there are no high levels of heavy metals in fish, a possible hazardous may occur in the future depending on the agricultural and fishing development in this area. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Authors are thankful to Prof. T. Balasubramanaian, Director, Centre of Advanced study in Marine Biology, Parangipettai, for his encouragement and providing all the facilities in carrying out this work. REFERENCES Adnano, D.C Trace metals in the terrestrial environment. New York: Springer Verlag. Analytical Methods Committee, Methods for destruction of organic matter, Analyst, 85: 643. Analytical Methods Committee, Methods for destruction of organic matter, Anayst. 85: 643. Beijer, k., and Jernelov, A Sources, transport and transformation of metals in the environment. In L. Friberg, G.F. Nordberg, and V.B. Vouk (Eds.),Handbook on the toxicology of metals. Amsterdam: Elseveir. pp:

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