Measurement of heavy metals (Pb, Sn and Zn) in edible (muscle) and inedible (liver) tissues of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) from Anzali wetland

This study was conducted to investigate the accumulation of three heavy metals including lead، tin and zinc in the liver and muscle tissues of 60 silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) collected from different stations of the Anzali wetland (located at the west south of Caspian sea): Pirbazar، Anzali، Khazarvila، Beshman، Sangachin and Abkenar، in April 2011. Samples were prepared according to standard method (MOOPAM، 1999) and amounts of three heavy metals were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Based on the results the concentrations of lead and tin in muscle were significantly higher than liver. In contrast، zink accumulation was significantly higher in the liver than muscle. The accumulation and distribution pattern of metals in the fish from different stations were as follow: Zn> Sn> Pb، and Abkenar ≤ Khazarvila < Sangachin ≤ Beshman ≤ Pirbazar ≤ Anzali. the Pb concentration in the liver of fish from all stations was lower than permissible limit of WHO. However، the Pb accumulation in the muscles of fish collected from all stations (except Abkenar) were higher than permissible limit of WHO. The levels of tin and zinc in both tissues of all fish were lower than permissible limit of WHO.