BIOACCUMULATION OF SELECTED HEAVY METALS IN FISHES OF THOOTHUKUDI COASTAL WATERS

Heavy metals are serious pollutants that cause environmental concern like diligence, lethality and capacity to be incorporated in food chains. The discharge of untreated sewage and effluents containing heavy metals from the shore based industries are known to accumulate in the aquatic organisms especially phytoplankton, zooplankton, which is the basic food sources for the organisms of the higher tropic levels, particularly fishes of commercial importance.  

The study was carried out for a period of three months (November 2018 to January 2019) to analyze the bioaccumulation of selected heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Pb & Zn) in fishes of Thoothukudi coastal waters. Fish species such as Sardinella longiceps, Sardinella sirm and Caranx heberi were collected from Therespuram & Punnakayal coastal waters. Heavy metal analysis was carried out using Atomic absorption spectrometer (FAO/SIDA, 1983).

Among the four heavy metals Cu, Zn & Pb were found to be higher in Punnakayal region (0.458 ppm, 20.44 ppm & 2.700 ppm respectively) and Cd was found to be higher (7.03 ppm) in Therespuram region. Higher concentration of Cu & Pb was noticed in the month of January in Punnakayal coastal water. Among the three fish species, C. heberi accumulated higher concentration of Zn & Cd as compared to the other two species.