Abstract

Determination of Some Heavy Metals in Fish, Water and Sediments from Bay of Bengal

Author(s): Siji Thomas and J. Abbas Mohaideen

Concentrations of five heavy metals, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) were determined in water, sediments and in marine species, the Indo-Pacific king mackerel popularly known as Spotted Seer fish (Scomberomorus Guttus). The samples were collected near the seashore of the Bay of Bengal from five different locations in North Tamilnadu Pulicat, Ennore, Marina, Mahabalipuram and Kalpakkam during the period September-November 2012. The maximum concentrations of heavy metals observed in fish were arsenic (0.382 mg/Kg-Pulicat), cadmium (0.441 mg/Kg-Ennore), chromium (0.711- mg/Kg-Marina), lead (0.673 mg/Kg-Marina), and mercury (0.08 mg/Kg-Kalpakkam). Maximum heavy metal concentrations in water are arsenic (0.03 mg/LKalpakkam), cadmium (0.022 mg/L-Ennore), chromium (0.046 mg/L-Ennore), lead (0.015 mg/L-Pulicat) and mercury (0.016 mg/L-Marina). Highest concentrations of arsenic (2.518 mg/Kg), cadmium (1.815 mg/Kg), chromium (3.082 mg/Kg) and lead (1.273 mg/Kg) in sediment was observed in samples collected from Ennore, while mercury was found in the highest concentration (0.668 mg/Kg) from Marina.