Measuring and comparing the concentrations of the heavy metals lead and chromium in the edible muscle tissue of Pike perch (Esox lucius) International Anzali Wetland

Pike (Esox lucius) is a native species in Anzali wetland and because of its flesh it has been interested to people for a long time. This study was done to compare the rate of accumulation and concentration of pollutants, heavy metals such as lead and chromium in edible muscle tissue of pike at three stations (West, Central, and East) of Anzali wetland. In this study, fishes were randomly caught in the number of 10 from each station in standard weights by gill nets. After removal of the tissue samples, for chemical digestion true mixed acid digestion (HNO3 / HCLO4) was performed on samples. Heavy metal concentrations were measured using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that the average concentration of lead metal in the Catfish were 0.52, 0.45 and 0.49 μg/g dry weight and the average concentration of chromium metal in the Catfish 0.08, 0.14 and 0.09 μg/g dry weight were observed for West, Center and East of Wetland, respectively. In this study, concentrations of lead and chromium in edible muscle tissue pike did not show significant difference between stations (P>0.05). The lead and chromium standards in American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), World Health Organization (WHO) were compared. The results showed that compared with the standard WHO= 0.5 toxicity of lead in samples of West wetland was observed more than permissible limit that this could be a warning of a threat to the health of these fish in vulnerable groups of society.