Bioaccumulation Pattern of Heavy Metals in Commercially Important Fishes in and Around Indian Sundarbans

Concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd were determined in edible finfish species (Polynemus paradiseus, Tenualosa ilisha, Liza parsia, Liza tade and Stolephorus commersonii) collected from four stations in and around Indian Sundarbans. Levels of the selected heavy metals were determined in the muscle of edible finfish species in the Gangetic delta region using a Perkin-Elmer Sciex ELAN 5000 ICP mass spectrometer and expressed as mg kg-1 dry weight. To determine whether heavy metal concentrations varied significantly between sites and species, Duncan multiple range test was performed. In finfish species the concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd ranged from 15.89±0.58 – 124.12 ±1.63, 13.68±0.83 – 75.91±0.49, 3.34±0.90–19.89±0.54 and BDL–4.01±0.03 respectively.For Zn and Cu, accumulated metal concentration in Stn. 4 is significantly lower than accumulated metal concentration in Stn. 1 and Stn. 2. For Pb, significant difference between stations was not found. Among the selected species, lowest metal accumulation values was found for S. commersonii (p < 0.05). The selected heavy metals in finfish muscle (except Zn in Liza parsia and Liza tade in Stn. 1) were also within the permissible limits for human consumption as indicated by the Food and Agricultural Organization