Assessment of Heavy Metals Concentration of Fish (Liza abu) in Karoon River, Khouzestan Province

This study investigates the presence of heavy metals such as copper, iron, zinc, mercury, lead, cadmium and manganes in muscle, liver and gill of fish (L.abu) in the Karoon River, in Khuzestan province. Samples were collected in winter 2010. After the biometric data of 72 specimens were recorded the samples of muscle, liver and gill were analysed. Sample preparation and analysis was done according to MOPPAM method. The concentrations of heavy metals in the dry digested samples of tissues were measured using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results of this study showed that the average concentrations of heavy metals were negligible and at maximum value in muscle and giil tissues, respectively. Iron concentration was showed to be higher than those of zinc, lead, manganese, cadmium, copper and mercury in different organs of fish (Liza abu). (P<0.05). Accumulation of lead, mercury, cadmium, iron and copper in muscle, liver and gill was highly significant and there were positive linear relationship between them (p<0.05). Concentration of Zinc in muscle and liver were not significantly different, but there were significant difference between muscle and liver with gills (p<0.05). Manganese concentration was determined in liver and gill showed no significant difference but it was significant difference between liver and gill with muscle (P<0.05). The results of the present study suggest that higher accumulation of heavy metals in liver and gills can be good environmental indicators of metal stress in Liza abu.