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Bioaccumulation of toxic metals by fish in a semi enclosed tropical ecosystem

DRS at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography

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Title Bioaccumulation of toxic metals by fish in a semi enclosed tropical ecosystem
 
Creator Nair, M.
Jayalakshmy, K.V.
Balachandran, K.K.
Joseph, T.
 
Subject brackishwater fish
toxicity
bioaccumulation
tissues
pollution effects
backwaters
tropical environment
ecosystems
heavy metals
semi-enclosed seas
 
Description Concentrations of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Mn in different tissues of 17 species of fish from a tropical estuary (Cochin backwaters) are presented. The metal electivity index (MSI) was found to be a better tool compared with the tissue selectivity index (TSI) for explaining bioaccumulation. Regardless of the tissue type, accumulation was maximum for Zn and minimum for Cd. A distinct metal accumulation capacity for each species was noteworthy. The low variability in metal content in the gills indicated its inertness towards bioaccumulation compared with muscle or liver. The high positive correlation between Zn and Pb in tissues is indicative of the anthropogenic impact in the estuary. Conclusions are that, in a weakly polluted area, the organ of choice for estimating bioaccumulation potential is the liver, whereas in a heavily polluted area, the tissue of choice is the gill. The data presented here may be of help for forensic investigations in tropical ecosystems, for evaluation of contaminant impact, and for assessing past contamination events. Fish are good indicators of contamination, and the composition of bioaccumulative data for different species can serve in establishing a bioaccumulation database for that area, useful as a starting point (background) in forensic investigations.
 
Date 2008-02-12T04:35:02Z
2008-02-12T04:35:02Z
2006
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Environmental Forensics, Vol. 7; 197-206p.
http://drs.nio.org/drs/handle/2264/811
 
Language en
 
Rights Copyright [2006]. It is tried to respect the rights of the copyright holders to the best of the knowledge. If it is brought to our notice by copyright holder that the rights are voilated then the item would be withdrawn.
 
Publisher Taylor and Francis