Heavy metal concentrations in the tissue of Sparus sarba Forskal, 1775 from the United Arab Emirates
- United Arab Emirates Univ., Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates)
Pollution of the marine environment by inorganic and organic chemicals has been recognised as one of the major factors posing serious threat to the survival of marine organisms including fish. Heavy metal contamination of the marine environment has been reported to cause toxicity to aquatic organisms. Natural processes such as volcanic eruptions, erosion and wind, industrial activities and mining are the major sources of metal contamination. Exposure to heavy metals through air, water and/or the food chain is known to induce a wide variety of toxic effects in humans and animals. Metals such as zinc manganese and copper are toxic only when present in high enough amounts, but at low levels are considered essential as micronutients. Extensive studies have been carried out in Europe and America to determine toxicity and bio-accumulation of these metals in fish and other marine flora and fauna. However, there is a gap in our knowledge of the kind and extent of marine pollution by heavy metals around the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the resultant contamination of the aquatic habitat. This study was designed to investigate the concentrations of cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc in the muscle, liver and heart, and mercury in the muscle tissue of Sparus Sarba, one of the more nutritionally popular fish of the UAE region. 11 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 103424
- Journal Information:
- Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Vol. 55, Issue 4; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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