Heavy Metals and Chemical Composition of Mullet Fish and Water Quality of Its Farms

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Food Analysis, Nutrition Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria, Egypt

2 General Observation of Cooperatives and Development Northern El Beheira, Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Fish is a source of high-quality protein, supplying respectively ≈6% and ≈16.4% of the world’s and total animal protein requirements. Mullet production is mainly farm-based. Heavy metal accumulation in aquatic organisms is a serious sequel of aquatic system pollution. Objective: To assess some heavy metal concentration and physiochemical composition of farm fish and water. Methods: 60 mulletfishand 18 surface water samples were collected from three fish farms for determination of fish and water Cd, Zn, Cr, Cu and Pb concentrations as well as analysis of fish proximate chemical composition and water physiochemical parameters. Results: Only Pb and Zn exceeded the maximum permissible limit (MPL) in fish samples while Pb and Cd exceeded the MPL in water samples. Pb levels exceeded the MPL of fish (1.5 mg/kg) in 5% of fish samples while its concentration exceeded the MPL of water (0.01mg/l) in 50% and 33.3% of water samples during winter and summer respectively. Znconcentration exceeded the MPL (5 mg/kg) in about 6.5% of fish samples during winter season only. all water samples exceeded the MPL of Cd (0.003 mg/l) during winter only. Chemical analysis of fish revealed that there was no significant difference in protein content of mullet among different farms and between the two seasons. Conclusion: Pb and Zn accumulate in fish edible tissue inconsiderably high concentrations. Pb and Cd pollution should be monitored in fish farming water.

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