Heavy Metal Detection in Mystus Bleekeri as Bioindicator and Potential Risk of Human Health

Abstract

The detection levels of five heavy metals Copper (Cu), Magnesium (Mg), Zinc (Zn) Cadmium (Cd) and Manganese (Mn) were elucidate from ninety five Mystus bleekeri samples to estimate water contamination and potential risk of human consumption in Sialkot region which is an important industrial area in Pakisan. The fish samples were collected from different locations of Nala Daik and were dtermined by spectrorophotometer. The metals detected cadmium exceeds the threshold limits for fish meat imposed by European and other international organizations. Magnesium was found unexpectedly in high amounts but its consumption limits are not set down yet . Copper found only in trace amounts and Zinc levels were within the threshold limits. Regressions were performed for both size and condition factor with metal concentrations. Zn shows positive allometry (P<0.001) for fish size (both weight and length) while Mg shows negative allometry for fish interms of length and weight, Mn was least significant in relation with body weight ( wet weight, µgg-1 ). No effect of condition factor was observed in the study on Mystus bleekeri. Inter-elemental regression shows only few significant correlations among metals.