Heavy metal accumulation in the tissue and food web of the Greater Lizardfish Saurida tumbil fish in Iraqi marine waters

To understand the bioaccumulation of trace metals in greater lizardfish, Saurida tumbil in Iraqi marine water, fish were monthly collected from May 2021 to April 2022. Heavy metals, including Pb, Ni, Fe, Co, and Cu in surface water, food web, and fish tissues were analyzed. The food of S. tumbil included three fish, crustacea, and squid. Surface water Pb and Fe concentrations were higher during the year, ranging from 10.5±2.83 to 19.98±3.69μg/L and 24.77±2.99 to 29.08±2.67μg/L, respectively. The concentration of heavy metals in different food webs showed that Fe and Pb were higher in fish, Cu was higher in fish and shrimp, and Co was highest in squid. The highest concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Fe, Co, and Cu) in lizard fish tissues was found in the summer. The food web was responsible for the greatest accumulation of Pb and Ni, in the tissues of lizard fish during summer and winter, whereas seawater was responsible for the greatest accumulation of other trace metals (Fe, Co, and Cu). Heavy metal accumulation in tissues of greater lizardfish concerning seawater was on the order of Ni>Fe>Co>Cu>Pb, regarding the food web, it was in the order of Pb>Ni>Fe>Cu>Co. The results indicated that seawater is responsible for Ni, and Fe accumulation in greater lizardfish tissues, and the food web is responsible for Pb and Ni accumulation. Depending on the mineral, metal concentrations in food or water can be used to predict metal concentrations in fish tissues.