Evaluation of trace elements contaminations in muscles of Rutilus kutum (Pisces: Cyprinidae) from the Southern shores of the Caspian Sea

Background: There is little information about the trace elements (TEs) concentrations in the muscle tissue of Caspian kutum (Rutilus kutum) in the South Caspian Sea. Methods: A total of 51 R. kutum specimens were caught at five fishing stations (Gorgan, Sari, Kiashahr, Anzali, and Astara) in the South Caspian Sea from September 2018 to January 2019. The inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was employed to measure the TEs concentrations in the fish muscles. Results: The maximum concentrations of Al (7.2 ppm), Pb (0.07 ppm), and Ni (0.02) were reported in Astara, and the highest concentrations of As (0.2 ppm), Cu (0.49 ppm), Cr (0.12 ppm), and Zn (1.56 ppm) were reported in Sari and Gorgan. The TEs concentrations measured in the fish muscles (except Mg, Zn, As, Al, Na, and S) had no significant differences among the sampling areas. The TEs concentrations were higher in the eastern areas (Sari and Gorgan) than in the western areas (Astara, Anzali, and Kiashahr) excluding As and Al. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu, Sn, Sb, Al, Cr, and Cd in muscles of R. kutum were found to be significantly lower (P < 0.05) than the maximum permitted levels according to the WHO/FAO standards, while As concentrations were comparable to these standards. Conclusion: The TEs concentrations in different fishing stations of Kiashahr, Anzali, and Astara, located in the southwestern areas were respectively compared with those obtained from Sari and Gorgan, located in the middle and southeastern shore of the Caspian Sea. According to the results, the TEs concentrations obtained from the fish muscles cannot pose a threat to human health. Keywords: Caspian Sea, Rutilus kutum, Elements, Human healt

Marine macro-algae as a bio-indicator of heavy metal pollution in the marine environments, Persian Gulf

357-363The northern parts of the Persian Gulf are more affected by pollutants because of their low depth, limited rotation, salinity, and high temperature. The anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic contaminations caused by organic and inorganic pollutants in aquatic ecosystems will eventually lead to increase pollution in water, sediments, and aquatic organisms. It seems that, algae are the most suitable indicator for soluble heavy metals (HMs) in both active and passive states. Samplings were carried out on a monthly basis in four different stations in Bushehr Province, northwest of the Persian Gulf from March 2016 to March 2017. ICP-mass spectrometry was used to determine Pb, Cu, Cd, As, Cr, Zn, Al, Mn, Co, V, Ni, Mg, S, Fe, and Ca concentrations in some macroalgae. In this study Padina gymnospora (brown algae) and Hypnea hamulosa (red algae) had the highest absorption, while the Cladophoropsis membranacea (green algae) showed the least absorption in all the sampling areas

Trace and Macro Element Contaminations in Tissues of Vimba persa and Alosa braschnikowi From the South Caspian Sea and Potential Human Health Risk Assessment

Alosa braschnikowi and Vimba persa are commercially important fish species in the southern part of the Caspian Sea. However, little is known about the trace element (TE) concentrations in their muscles. To this end, a total of 82 pieces of V. persa and 74 A. braschnikowi were caught at three different fishing areas (Astara, Anzali, and Kiashahr) around the southwestern shorelines of the Caspian Sea from September 2017 through June 2018. An inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to measure the accumulation of 34 traces and macro elements in some tissues of the fish species. Then, comparisons of the element levels in these tissues were made for the three different fishing areas. Overall, in the case of A. braschnikowi, 30, 30, and 28 elements were detected in its skin, gonads, and kidneys, respectively, while in the case of V. persa, 27 and 28 elements were found in its muscle and liver, respectively. The majority of element levels measured in these tissues indicated no significant differences among the sampling areas (P>0.05) except for such elements as copper, lanthanum, and tungsten in skin, lanthanum, rubidium, and vanadium in gonads, as well as molybdenum and zinc in kidney (P<0.05). The capacity of observed elements put human health at risk were examined as well. The TE content in the tissues of A. braschnikowi and in the muscles of V. persa (P<0.05) differed significantly from the international standard levels (P<0.05). In this study, only lead indicated a target hazard quotient (THQ) index above 1. Therefore, high consumption of this fish (360 g per year) may be a matter of concern for the consumer. In the case of other evaluated elements, the THQ value was less than 1

Relationship Between Trace Element Content in the Brain of Bony Fish Species and Their Food Items in the Southwest of the Caspian Sea Due to Anthropogenic Activities

The trace elements (TEs) in aquatic environments due to anthropogenic activities are readily available to aquatic organisms. There are 153 fish species inhabiting the Caspian Sea. However, little is known about TE (TE) concentrations in these species. In this study, we investigated the effects of TEs levels in the brain of some bony fish species inhabiting the Caspian basin. Totally, 405 fish from nine species with different feeding behaviors including Leuciscus aspius (n = 20) and Perca fluviatilis (n = 37) as piscivores, Rutilus kutum (n = 27) and Rutilus caspius (n = 71) as carnivores, Vimba persa (n = 56), Ponticola caspia (n = 25) and Tinca tinca (n = 31) as mollusivores, and Alburnus chalcoides (n = 77) and Alosa braschnikowi (n = 61) as zooplanktivores were collected from the southwest of the Caspian Sea basin from September 2017 to June 2018. The ICP-OES was used to measure TEs in the brain tissue of fish. The variability of TEs concentrations in the brain tissues of these fishes by principal component analysis (PCA) was decreased to 63.59% and 17.68% for PC1 and PC2, respectively, exhibiting that 81.27% of the total variability is associated with K, Mg, P, S, Zn, and Al. The two-dimensional diagrams showed the weight of each component in PCA. The PC1 was mostly influenced by P, Mg, K, and Zn, while the greatest value in PC2 belonged to Al. Furthermore, the entire number of elements determined in this study was found to be a suitable indicator for the distinction between fish species based on their feeding items

Morphological comparison of western and eastern populations of Caspian kutum, Rutilus kutum (Kamensky, 1901) (Cyprinidae) in the southern Caspian Sea

This study aimed to investigate morphological differences of western and eastern populations of Caspian kutum Rutilus kutum in the southern Caspian Sea and its providing length-weight relationships and condition factor (CF). A 13-landmark based morphometric truss network system was used to investigate the hypothesis of population fragmentation of western and eastern populations of this species. The studied populations were differentmorphologically based on pre anal, body height, distance from pectoral fin to ventral fin, distance from pectoral fin to anal fin, caudal peduncle length, head length, pre orbital, pre ventral, and dorsal length. The results also revealed a negative allometry (b<3) of length-weight relationships for both sexes. Maximum condition factors was found in March. The results suggest distinct stocks in the western and eastern of Caspian Sea for fisheries management

Assessing some heavy metals pollutions in sediments of the northern Persian Gulf (Bushehr province)

Background: Land and water pollution by heavy metals is a universal issue. Although the pollution affects all countries, but its range and severity vary hugely. The pollution of the marine environment by heavy metals is a worldwide problem. Marine sediments can be sensitive indicators for monitoring contaminants in aquatic environments. Methods: The concentration of 10 elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Al, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn) was determined in the sediments of four shoreline stations including Imam Hassan port, Ameri port, Bushehr port, and Nayband Bay at the west Persian Gulf from March to December 2017. The elements were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: The contamination of the sediments was assessed based on the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and enrichment factor (EF). Spearman correlation matrix was calculated between all the trace metals and major elements as well as corresponding sampling regions. Statistically significant inter-elemental correlations (e.g., Cr-Fe, Cr-Al, Cr-Ni, Cr-Zn, and Cr-Cu) were found between some metals. High EF levels for Fe, Al, and Pb suggest that metals in the sediments of the northern Persian Gulf could have originated from anthropogenic sources. Conclusion: The contamination pattern of sediments is affected by factors such as sedimentation patterns, physical and chemical properties of the sediments. For example, sediments with fine-grained and high surface area-to-volume ratio can act as good absorbents for many pollutants. Keywords: Heavy metals, Geologic sediment, Persian Gulf, Busheh

Some aspects of the life history of Oxynoemacheilus bergianus (Actinopterygii: Nemacheilidae) from the Jajrud River in the Namak Lake basin, Central Iran

The length-weight relationship, breeding season and condition factor of Oxynoemacheilus bergianus from Jajrud River in the Namak Lake basin, Tehran Province, Central Iran, were investigated. Sampling was performed from March 2017 to February 2018. The biometric measurements and the body and gonad weights were monthly carried out for one year log sampling occasions, in a total of 546 specimens. The range of total length in males and females were 3.8-7.5 and 3-7.6 cm, and the range of total weight were correspondingly 0.36-3.53 and 0.2-4.67 g respectively. The calculated coefficient of determination (r2) in males and females was found to be 0.94 and 0.95, respectively reflecting a positive allometric (b > 3, p > 0.05) growth in both sexes. The gonadosomatic index and modified gonadosomatic index showed that O. bergianus spawns in the middle of spring in May. In agreement with that, the condition factor reached the minimum (0.60) in February, while the maximum (0.96) in May. Since there is poor conservation status of the species, this study aims to give a contribution for biologists and wildlife managers

Assessing some heavy metals pollutions in sediments of the northern Persian Gulf (Bushehr province)

Background: Land and water pollution by heavy metals is a universal issue. Although the pollution affects all countries, but its range and severity vary hugely. The pollution of the marine environment by heavy metals is a worldwide problem. Marine sediments can be sensitive indicators for monitoring contaminants in aquatic environments. Methods: The concentration of 10 elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Al, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn) was determined in the sediments of four shoreline stations including Imam Hassan port, Ameri port, Bushehr port, and Nayband Bay at the west Persian Gulf from March to December 2017. The elements were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: The contamination of the sediments was assessed based on the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and enrichment factor (EF). Spearman correlation matrix was calculated between all the trace metals and major elements as well as corresponding sampling regions. Statistically significant inter-elemental correlations (e.g., Cr-Fe, Cr-Al, Cr-Ni, Cr-Zn, and Cr-Cu) were found between some metals. High EF levels for Fe, Al, and Pb suggest that metals in the sediments of the northern Persian Gulf could have originated from anthropogenic sources. Conclusion: The contamination pattern of sediments is affected by factors such as sedimentation patterns, physical and chemical properties of the sediments. For example, sediments with fine-grained and high surface area-to-volume ratio can act as good absorbents for many pollutants