World Journal of Fish and Marine Sciences 3 (6): 514-517, 2011 ISSN 2078-4589 © IDOSI Publications, 2011 Corresponds Author: Akram Heydari Maghtouie, Department of Marine Biology, Scienceand Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahwaz, Iran. E-mail: heydari.akram2@gmail.com. 514 Determination of Mercury in Mullet Fish (Liza abu) from Arvand River, Iran Akram Heydari Maghtouie, Ghahereh Neissi, Soad Nasseri, 1 1 1 Elham Gholaminezhad, Nasim Shalamzari and Yadollah Nikpour 1 1 2 Department of Marine Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahwaz, Iran 1 Department of Marine Chemistry, Faculty of Marine Science, 2 Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, P.O. Box: 669, Iran Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of mercury in muscles and gills tissues of high consumption mullet fish (Liza abu) from the Arvand River, Iran, during summer and winter. The samples were analyzed by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS) for mercury after digestion. The results were expressed as μg/g of dry weight. The resulted range of contamination in fish was between 0.056-1.851 μg gG for muscle; and 0.501-25.525 μg gG for gill mercury. Also study revealed that seasonal 1 1 variation influenced the concentration of the metals in the fish samples. The highest concentration of mercury was found in Minoo station (25.525 μg gG) in summer. Our study demonstrates that estimated daily and weekly 1 intakes of mercury via consumption of fish were below the Permissible Tolerable Daily Intake (PTDI) and Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) values established by FAO/WHO. Key words: Bioaccumulation %Liza abu %Mercury Contamination %Arvand River %Persian Gulf INTRODUCTION level, thus posing potential health risk to human fish Fish are one of important sources of protein with metals are nervous system and the kidney [6, 7]. Heavy Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are renowned metal fluctuations in fish tissues might be influenced by globally for greatly reducing cholesterol levels and several factors such as seasonal variation, nourishment maintaining healthy human hearts, brains, joints and source and biological differences [8, 9]. immune system [1]. Fish demand is increasing rapidly and Mercury is recognized by EPA (Environmental worldwide [2]. Khuzestan province (Southwest Iran) is Protection Agency) as toxic pollutants [10] and their one of the most important fish culturing and consuming effects on human are well documented [11]. In this study, provinces in Iran, but traditional fishery in Rivers and we evaluated the concentration of mercury in Mullet fish Persian Gulf coastal water is still remained as one of the (Liza abu) which is one of the most consumed fish in the main ways for local people to earn their income. region. According to Annual Fishery Statistics of Iran [3], the annual per capita fish consumption has been reported MATERIALS AND METHODS 7.62 kg in 2009. It is very surprising that the per capita fish consumption in 1980 was only 1 kg. The biggest River in General Procedure: Specimens were collected in winter Khuzestan, Arvand, is the borderline between Iran and and summer 2009 as indicators for cold and warm seasons. Iraq. Nearly two million people are living beside this River A total number of 90 individuals from three stations in three port cities. Very important industrial zones are (Faisal, dairy farm and Minoo (Fig. 1)) along Arvand River located along Arvand and the main portion of these was caught and transferred to laboratory using ice box. industries are oil refineries, petrochemical complexes, gas Samples were weighted, measured and dissected for fields and marine transport facilities. Industrial activities their muscles and gills tissues. Obtained tissues were have led to trace metal contamination in the environment freeze dried, powdered and kept in freezer (-20°C) in a pre- [4]. These highly persistent and non-biodegradable cleaned capped glass vials prior to chemical analysis [12]. contaminants have been reported to cause toxic effects in All glassware were immersed in 10% HNO overnight and fish and may bioaccumulated via food web to hazardous rinsed thoroughly by distilled water. consumers [5]. It is found that the main targets of heavy 3