Assessment of metal bioaccumulation in Mastacembelus armatus (eel) and exposure evaluation in human

Abstract

Present study deals with the physico-chemical and metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) quantification in river Ganga water and bioaccumulation of metals in vital organs (gill, liver and muscle) of Mastacembelus armatus. River water quality indicated that industrial effluents may be prime source of metal pollution in river Ganga. Higher organosomatic index in fish samples from downstream revealed the impact of higher metal concentration on vital organs. Metal pollution index was found highest in gill followed by muscle and least in liver. Metal concentration in muscle was compared with the FAO permissible guidelines which revealed that concentration of Cr, Cu and Cd were many folds higher than the permissible guidelines. Effective ingestive dose was calculated to assess the adverse impact caused by dietary exposure of studied metals and it was found that concentration of Cr, Cd and Pb was higher than the permissible concentration given by USEPA. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.