Monitoring of risk metals in chub (Leuciscus cephalus L.) from the Svitava and Svratka rivers in the urban area of Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the Brno agglomeration on the distribution of risk elements (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, As) in tissues of a total of 50 chub (Leuciscus cephalus L.). Contamination by metals was monitored in fish from different sites on the Svitava and Svratka rivers in the urban agglomeration of Brno in 2008. Metal concentration was determined in the muscle, liver and kidney by high-resolution atomic absorption spectrometry. Electrothermic technique was used to assess lead, cadmium and copper concentrations; zinc content was determined by flame technique and arsenic by hydride generation. The highest concentrations of cadmium, lead, arsenic and zinc in individual tissues, ranked in a descending order as follows: kidney > liver > muscle; for copper it was liver > kidney > muscle. The highest concentrations of cadmium, arsenic and zinc were determined in chub kidney from the locality of Kníničky (1.35 ± 0.97, 0.186 ± 0.076, and 299.7 ± 123.4 mg·kg-1 respectively); the highest concentration of lead was on the Svratka before junction (0.28 ± 0.19 mg·kg-1). The highest contamination with risk metals was found in chub from the Svratka. The assessed concentrations have shown minimum participation of the Brno agglomeration in the accumulation of metals. The concentrations of all risk elements in chub from all of the monitored localities do not pose any environmental or health threat. This study updates published data on chub from the Rivers Svitava and Svratka on concentration of risk elements.