Measurement and comparison of heavy metals Cd, Pb and Ni in two species Cryptocentrus cyanotaenia Bleeker, 1853 and Boleophthalmus dussumieri Valenciennes, 1837 of family Gobiidae in Bandar Abbas coastal waters

Gobiidae family fishes play a significant role in coastal ecosystems with mud beds and mangrove ecosystems and also play a key role in the food chain in these areas. They are known as a heavy metal biomarkers. The aim of this study was to investigate the metals cadmium, lead and nickel in the muscle of two species including Cryptocentrus cyanotaenia in Hormoz Island and Boleophthalmus dussumieri in the Bandar Kamir. A total number of 30 fishes, samples for each species were collected from selected area and after biometrics and preparation and digestion steps to determine the concentration of nickel, cadmium and lead metals were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. In this study, comparisons were made between the concentration of metals with a maximum of 13.10±1.88 and a minimum of 2.85±1.20 µg/g, respectively for  lead and cadmium in the muscle of B. dussumieri. The highest and lowest values ​​of 12.13±1.96 and 2.86±0.83 respectively were recorded for lead and cadmium in C. cyanotaenia muscle. By examining the correlation between the concentrations of metals in the muscle of the species, it was found that there is a positive and significant relationship between the concentration of metals in the muscle and their biometry (total length and total weight). The results showed that the studied Gobiidae family fish are suitable biomarkers for nickel, cadmium and lead metals.