Accumulation of some heavy metals in Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822) collected from Shatt Al-Arab River

Abstract

In the present study, the concentrations of various heavy metals including copper, nickel, lead, cadmium, iron and manganese were investigated in several organs (muscles of head, muscles of trunks, muscles of tails, liver, gills, gonads and intestine) of Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822) which was collected from Shatt Al-Arab river during the period between February 2013 and September 2013. Heavy metal concentrations were measured by using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results of the heavy metals during study period showed that the highest concentration was 41.910 µg/g (dry weight) for iron between February and March, whereas the least concentration was 0.036 µg/g (dry weight) for lead between June and July. Also, they showed that the highest concentration was 27.470 µg/g (dry weight) for iron in liver, whereas the least concentration was 0.003 µg/g (dry weight) for lead in muscles of tails.