Lead contamination in fishes of the Kor River

Abstract

Lead concentration in muscle, liver, kidney, brain and gonad tissues of two cyprinid fishes, Cyprinus carpio and Copoeta spp., from three sections of the upper, middle and lower parts of the Kor River was evaluated in 2006. Totally 225 specimens were caught for this purpose (75 specimens from each zone). Tissue samples were digested in acid and their lead concentrations were assayed by ICP method. Statistical analysis of data showed significantly (p<0.05) higher concentrations of lead in the mid zone than the two other zones. No significant differences (p>0.05) were seen between sexes and species. The same pattern of contamination was also observed in water and sediment samples from three sampling zones. The maximum amount of lead measured in this study (1.85mg/kg), was, however, less than the maximum allowance in fish tissues by European :union:s.