Trace metals in liver, skin and muscle of Lethrinus lentjan fish species in relation to body length and sex

Abstract

A post-Gulf sea water pollution assessment program was carried out in the liver, skin and muscle tissues of the localized Lethrinus lentjan fish species [Family: Lethrinidae (Teleost)]. Monitoring the concentration of the major heavy metals at different sites along the western coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the Arabian Gulf was studied. The concentrations of Zn, Cu and Mn were found to follow the order: liver > skin > muscle while the cadmium level follows the sequence: liver > muscle > skin. The influence of fish sex and body length on the metal accumulation of those metals in the tested fish organs was critically investigated. The average metal concentrations in liver, skin and muscle of female fish were found to be higher than those found in the male fish. The detected metal levels were generally similar to previous pre-war, 1991 levels. The study concludes that the marine fish from the Arabian Gulf are comparatively clean and do not constitute a risk for human health.