HEAVY METAL LEVELS IN EUTHYNNUS AFFINIS (CANTOR 1849) KAWAKAWA FISH MARKETED AT KARACHI FISH HARBOUR, PAKISTAN AND POTENTIAL RISK TO HUMAN HEALTH

Heavy metal levels in Euthynnus affinis (Cantor 1849) Kawakawa fish marketed at Karachi Fish Harbour, Pakistan and potential risk to human health

Quratulan Ahmed, Levent Bat

The Marine Reference Collection and Resources Centre, University of Karachi, 75270, Karachi, PAKISTAN
Department of Hydrobiology, Fisheries Faculty, Sinop University, 57000, Sinop, TURKEY

Abstract

Heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb) in muscles and liver of Euthynnus affinis (mean length of 61.02 3.618cm and mean weight of 2600 586.647g) from Karachi Fish Harbour of Pakistan during different seasons from October 2010 to September 2011 were determined. The metal concentrations in the muscles of E. affinis were always lower than those in livers within different seasons. Iron was the highest and lead was the lowest in both muscle and liver. The highest Fe and Mn concentrations were 47 12.5 and 10.4 3.2 μg/g dry wt. in muscles during South-west monsoon, respectively. The maximum concentrations of Fe (660 141 μg/g dry wt.), Mn (47.4 12.3 μg/g dry wt.) and Ni (2.8 0.8 μg/g dry wt.) were also recorded in liver during South-west monsoon season. The maximum Pb concentration in muscle and liver of Kawakawa were 0.4958 0.13641 and 1.5950 0.3045 µg metal g-1 dry wt., respectively. In general, it was found that the levels of heavy metals studied were lower than the maximum permissible limit of the food regulations of international standards. These data have provided a useful baseline for future reference.

Keywords: Heavy metal, Euthynnus affinis, Karachi Fish Harbour