Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in edible marine fish from coastal areas of Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

The worldwide increase in population, urbanization, and industrialization was affecting the natural aquatic environment in the form of pollution. The consumption of fishes as food has immense therapeutic and nutritional benefits. Heavy metal pollution of marine aquatic ecosystem occurring due to urban and industrial waste discharge, agricultural runoff and accidental spills of toxic chemicals is globally a rising concern and possesses a dangerous threat for human health due to their regular feeding habits. Humans consume fish as a dietary uptake without knowing the heavy metal accumulated from the polluted areas and are vulnerable to certain health risks. An attempt was made in the present investigation to monitor heavy metals concentration in coastal waters and edible marine fish Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) namely Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) in water and fish tissues (Gills and Liver) of Nelaturu, Krishnapatnam coastal areas. The extent of metal concentrations in the water and levels of heavy metals varied among the various tissues in the fish species studied and the concentrations of the metals found in fish gill, liver tissues were high. At this rate, consumption of marine fish from Nelaturu, Krishnapatnam may lead to heavy toxicity and other related health problems to human and other animals. Control measures are required to reduce aquatic heavy metal pollution in the Nellore coast.