Short communication: Study on bioaccumulation of heavy metals (cadmium, nickel, zinc and lead) in the muscle of wels catfish (Silurus glanis) in the Anzali Wetland

After entering aquatic ecosystems, heavy metals accumulate in the organs and tissues of aquatics including fish and finally enter the food chain. These heavy metals can enter the human body through eating contaminated fish. Absorbance values and accumulation of heavy metals in aquatics especially the fish depend on ecological conditions, physical, chemical and biological factors of water, the element type, and the physiological state of the aquatic (Oryan et al., 2010). Among aquatic ecosystems, wetlands and rivers are considerably important from the point of ecology. Rivers act as carriers of nutrients and non–nutrients and wetlands act as sinks for these substances. Now this effect will be more apparent if the wetland is an intermediary between a river and a static ecosystem. The Anzali Wetland is the type of ecosystem that embraces water from 11 rivers from one side and passes water into the Caspian Sea through a second outlet on the other side. The rivers passing through urban and rural areas and forests carry different types of organic matter, minerals, sediment, and industrial sewage (Taheri, 2013). The Anzali Wetland is one of the valuable wetlands registered in the Ramsar International Convention the contamination of which has become the main challenge for the people and officials during the past two decades (Khosravi, 2011)

Heavy metals (Cd, Ni and Zn) concentrations in the edible muscle tissue of Pike perch (Esox lucius) from Anzali Wetland

Pike (Esox lucius) is a native species in Anzali Wetland and has been considered for its flesh. This study was carried out to compare the rate of accumulation and concentration of heavy metals such as cadmium, nickel and zinc in edible muscle tissue of pike at three stations (west, center and east) of Anzali wetland in 2012.Ten fishes were randomly caught by gillnet from different stations in standard weights. After removal of the tissue samples, for chemical digestion through mixed acid digestion (HNO3 / HClO4) was performed on samples. Heavy metal concentrations were measured using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The average concentration of cadmium in pike in western station was 0.05 and in eastern and central part of wetland was 0.09 (μg/g dry weight), Mean concentrations of nickel metal in west, center and east, were 0.44, 0.37 and 0.22 (μg/g dry weight), Average concentrations of zinc in western, central and eastern part of wetland were 28, 25.55 and 13.55 (μg/g dry weight) respectively. In this study, concentrations of cadmium, nickel and zinc in edible muscle tissue of pike did not show significant differences between stations (P>0.05). The cadmium, nickel and zinc standards in American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), World Health Organization (WHO) were compared. The results showed that toxicity of nickel in samples of central was near but in western part was more than the permissible limit compared with the standard WHO = 0.38, therefore consumption of this fish could be a warning of a threat to the health of these fish in vulnerable groups of society

The evaluation of the quality of beta-carotene derived from Azolla filiculoides in the Anzali Wetland using the alkaline hydrolysis method in summer

The present project was aimed at determining the content, quality, and purity of β-carotene extracted from Azolla filiculoides in the Anzali Wetland, comparing it with synthetic β- carotene, and measuring its economic value. One treatment had β-carotene derived from Azolla filiculoides in the Anzali Wetland through the alkaline hydrolysis method in the summer of 2014. Treatments were kept at 4 °C for one year. Synthetic β-carotene was used as the control. The quality of the treatments was assessed by applying some chemical tests, including the measurement of the content and quality of β-carotene, colorimetry using the Hunter-LAB method, determination of the purity and vitamin A employing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), estimation of the dwell-time duration at 5 °C, and measurement of the solubility of β-carotene in water. The results of the tests regarding the purity, concentration, colorimetry, vitamin compounds, dwell time, and solubility in the experimental β-carotene, compared with those in the control, revealed no significant difference (p>0.05). Moreover, the factors showed no significant difference between the control and experimental treatments during the dwell time (p>0.05). The natural β-carotene had a good quality during the storage period at 5 °C for one year. Since there was no significant difference between the β-carotene derived from Azolla filiculoides and the synthetic one in terms of the chemical tests, purity, and dwell time, and since the natural β- carotene derived from Azolla filiculoides takes precedence over the synthetic one in terms of the economic value, it is recommended that natural β-carotene extracted from Azolla filiculoides be substituted for synthetic β-carotene in the food industry

Investigation of Mnemiopsis leidyi feeding from the Caspian Sea zooplanktons

Mnemiopsis leidyi was sampled from December 2003 to March 2005 in 11 stations located along four regions Anzali, Khazarabad, Tourkman and Gorgan Bay using METU net in the Iranian coasts of the Caspian Sea. Study of stomach contents of M. leidyi showed that Acartia sp. belonging to Copepoda and Lamellibranchia sp. had the highest frequency comprising 66% and 13% of food items taken by the organism respectively and the least food items taken were Balanus nauplii, Rotatoria, Tintinnopsis and Podon polyphemoides. The maximum mean abundance of food item was Acartia sp. which was shown to be present in stomach content of M. leidyi caught in different depths, seasons and regions in the Iranian coasts of the Caspian Sea. For the M. leidyi larvae, the highest amount of food item was Acartia sp. and Lamellibranchia sp. with an average of 44% and 32% and the maximum abundance of food item for juvenile and mature M. leidyi was also Acartia sp. with an average of 67.5% and 66%. The results showed that the main food item for M. leidyi is Acartia sp. of the Copepoda. Hence, M. leidyi feeding has an important effect in declining zooplankton populations

Impacts of whey protein edible coating on chemical and microbial factors of gutted kilka during frozen storage

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of whey protein coating on quality and shelf life of Kilka fish. Whey protein edible coating was prepared in three different concentrations, including 3, 7, 10 and 13%. Then gutted Kilkas were coated for 1h, packed in polyethylene dishes with cellophane blanket and stored at -18 °C. Total microbial count, total volatile nitrogen (TVN) and moisture evaluation were carried out within 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 months (sample size: 75 packages, weighted 250 grams each). Results showed that there was no significant difference between total microbial count and total volatile nitrogen among samples (p>0.05). Moisture of coated samples with 13% concentration of whey protein had significant difference with other treatments (p<0.05) suggesting that whey protein edible coating with 13% concentrations can enhance quality and increase shelf life of Kilka fish in storage of freezing up to 4 months

Comparison of effect of Zataria multiflora and Rosemarinus officinalis extracts on quality of minced frozen silver carp

The aim of the this study was to have a comparison between Zataria multiflora and Rosemarinus officinalis extracts on quality of minced frozen silver carp preserved in cold storage temperature -18°C for six months. In this research, one control and three treatments of minced silver carp were prepared as Tr1 (+ Zataria), Tr2 (+Rosemary) and Tr3 (mixed with Rosemary and Zataria) all in normal packaging. After quick freezing of samples in the spiral freezer they were preserved in cold storage temperature -18°C for six months. In this period, the changes of Peroxide Value, Total Volatile Nitrogen, Tio Barbituric Acid and Free Fatty Acids in all treatments were measured based on a predetermined schedule. The results of this investigation showed a significant effect of anti-oxidant in all treatments (p<.05) and it was concluded that Rosemary containing anti-oxidants maintains the best quality after six months of cold storage and corruption indices are not exceeded. Analysis of Peroxide Value, Total Volatile Nitrogen, Tio Barbituric Acid and Free Fatty Acids in different treatments during six months of reservation in freezing under the temperature of -18°C showed that the obtained results to the end of the reservation period for all treatments has increased and treatment containing Rosemary, with Peroxide Value 6.83±0.35meq.1000g^-1, Tio Barbituric Acid 2.1±0.1mgMAL.kg^-1 and Total Volatile Nitrogen with 19.16±0.28mg.100g ^-1 had the best quality of preservation compared with other treatments during the preservation period. Therefore, based on these results and statistical analyses, the effect of anti-oxidant and time in all treatments is significant (p<.05) and the treatments containing Rosemary had the best quality preservation status in -18°C and did not surpass perishing criteria during this period

Determination of growth parameters, mortality and CPUE of Capoeta capoeta in Hassanloo reservoir

The study was conducted to determine growth parameters, mortality, length frequency, age structure and catch per unit effort (CPUE) of Capeota capeota in Hassanloo reservoir in western Azerbaijan. Fish sampling was done seasonally in 2004-2005 by gill net with mesh sizes 20, 30, 40, 50, 60mm. The results showed age compositions of the fish were 1-5 years old. Average length and weight were estimated at 31.81±0.54cm and 601.30±20.49g, respectively. The range of total length and weight were 19-48cm and 120-1550g. The growth parameters were L.=53.086cm, t_o = -0.2898, K= 0.4120. Total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) were 0.76, 0.58 and 0.18 per year, respectively. Growth in length and weight of Capoeta capoeta population in Hassanloo reservoir compared better than the same age fish in other ecosystems of the region. Average CPUE for 100m gill nets in 24 hours was estimated at 11.81kg

Antimutagenic activity of chloroformic and methanolic extracts of muscle, liver and cartilage of Sphyrna lewini with the Ames test

For this study one species of Shyrnidae family caught along Persian Gulf in Bandarabbas city. Sphyrna lewini were transferred to the laboratory on spring 2007. The antimutagenic activity of the Methanolic and Chloroforamic extracts of muscle, liver and cartilage of Sphyrna lewini with the Ames test was investigated. The use of antimutagens and anticarcinogens in everyday life is the most effective procedure to prevent human cancer and genetic diseases. Since angiogenenesis is a key factor in tumor growth, inhibiting this process is one way to treat cancer. In this study the antimutagenic effect of the Chloroformic and Methanolic extracts of muscle, liver and cartilage on the damage induced by two mutagens was studied. The results driven from this study were inhibitory effect of two extracts. The highest antimutagenic effect was determined in the Potassium Permanganate and Sodium Azide as a mutagen was Methanolic extracts of cartilage . There is a general correlation between mutagenesis and the initiation stage of carcinogenesis. Mutagens appear to initiate the process by inducing the primary DNA lesion. These are called initiators and the damage they cause is generally irreversible

Effect of whey protein coating on physico-chemical properties of gutted Kilka during frozen storage

The a im of th is paper was to study the effects w hey pro t e in c oat i ng on ch e m ic al a nd physic al properties of gut t ed K i l ka dur i ng f roz en stor a ge. Coating of Kilka has done by dipping in whey protein solution with different concentrations of 3, 7, 10 and 13%, for 1h. Then, after being packed in polyethylene dishes, they were covered in cellophane blanket and stored in -18°C. There were 125 testing and control packages, each of them weight 250grams. Heme iron, peroxide value, protein, lipid and pH has measured after 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 months storage in freezer. R e s u l ts of h e me iron, p e roxi de v a l ue and lipid of control tr e at m ents h a ve s hown s i gni f icant difference among ex p e r i m ent al tr e at m ents (p0.05). Our results showed that coating process with di ff e r e nt whey pro t e in con c entrat i on leads to decrease in peroxide value and increases the iron content. 13% whey protein concentration was provided the most satisfactory results

Catch composition and fishing trend of kilka in Iranian part of the Caspian Sea

Population structure of three kilka fishes (Clupeonella spp.), particularly anchovy kilka (C. engrauliformis), in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea was surveyed in 2003. A total of 3230 biweekly samples were collected from commercially landed kilka at 3 stations in Mazandaran and Guilan provinces. Catch and effort statistics were obtained from the relevant organization. Results showed a great decline in the commercial kilka catch from 95000 tons in 1999 to 15497 tons in 2003. The contribution of anchovy kilka to the total kilka fishery also showed a decline from 71% in 1999 to 52.5% in 2003, while common kilka (C. cultriventris) increased from 13.7% in 1999 to 48.9% in 2003. Fork length range of anchovy kilka showed an increase from 89.2±12mm in 1999 to 100.4±4.9mm in 2003. The age composition of anchovy ranged between 1+ to 7+ years and the dominant group was 5+ years old (age group of 4+ and 5+ comprised 84.6% of population). The K value and L∞ calculated 0.598/year and 110.13 mm respectively. Natural, fishing and total mortality coefficient was estimated 0.69, 0.31 and 1 per year respectively. The results showed a sex ratio of F:M= 68.2:31.8