IJBLST 2019 Volume 10 Issue 1

Khin Myint Mar. (2019). Assessment of some heavy metals in fishes, water and effluent samples From Ayeyawady River Segment near the Fertilizer Industry. International Journal of Biological Sciences and Technology (IJBLST) ISSN: 0975–8704, 10(1), 1–9. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3365753

Assessment of some heavy metals in fishes, water and effluent samples From Ayeyawady River Segment near the Fertilizer Industry

Khin Myint Mar

Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Magway, Magway, Myanmar

dr.khinmyintmar@gmail.com, d.kyinsaing@gmail.com

Abstract:

This paper presents the research that was conducted to analyze the concentration of some essential metals such as calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and non-essential metals such as arsenic (As), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in the Ayeyawady River water, the effluent of fertilizer industry and muscles of three fish species (Mystus cavasius, Mystus leucophasis and Wallago attu). The Salay fertilizer Industry, Chauk Township, Magway Region, Myanmar was chosen as the study site. The study period lasted from July 2013 to February 2014. The concentration of metals in the fish muscles and water samples collected was analyzed by by Flame Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). With regard to non-essential metal, the metal concentration in the river water and effluent was found in the order As> Ca > Fe > Cd and Pb was not detected. The concentration of Ca and Fe was higher in the river water than that in the effluent. In contrast, the concentration of As and Cd was higher in the effluent than in the river water. Cd and As in both river water and the effluent were higher than the permissible limits set down by FAO/WHO (1983) guidelines. With respect to essential metals, Ca and Fe in the river water was higher than the permissible limit while that in the effluent was lower than the permissible limit of FAO/WHO (1983). In the muscles of the fishes studied, Ca was the highest accumulated metal and Pb was the lowest metal and Cd not detected and the order of metal accumulation was Ca > Fe> Pb. Ca and Fe in muscles of the fishes studied were lower than the permissible limits of FAO/WHO guidelines and Pb was higher than the FAO/WHO guidelines, Cd was not detected except the Mystus cavasius (drifted dead fish). The results obtained in the present study revealed that it seems to be toxic to consumers in long-term exposure of lead because of consuming dead fish drifted down in the study area. Monitoring programme is needed.

Key words: essential metals, non-essential metals, Mystus cavasius, Mystus leucophasis, Wallago attu, fertilizer industry