Determination of heavy metals in Acanthopagrus latus (Yellowfin seabream) from the Bushehr seaport (coastal of Persian Gulf), Iran

In this study, bioaccumulation of lead, copper, cadmium, zinc and mercury in gill, liver and muscle of Acanthopagrus latus (Yellowfin seabream) was quantified. The concentrations of heavy metals were determined by using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) after wet digestion method. The result comprise of concentration level of Cu^²+, Cd^²+, Zn^²+, Pb^²+ and Hg^²+ in ten different samples of fish. Cu^²+ and Zn^²+ concentrations show that there is no significant variation with weight and length, but Cd^²+, Pb^²+ and Hg^²+ concentration increases gradually as weight and length increases. Concentrations of metals in gill, liver and muscle were significantly different (p 0.05). Muscle, generally, accumulated the lowest levels of metals and highest levels of metal concentrations were observed in the liver and gills. These results suggest that higher accumulation of heavy metals in liver and gills can be good environmental indicators of metal stress in Acanthopagrus latus.