Heavy metals bioaccumulation in fish of southern Iran and risk assessment of fish consumption

Background: This study purposed to assess the health risks of heavy metals including nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) in three widely-consumed fish from the coast of Bandar Abbas (Persian Gulf) and to determine the maximum amounts allowed for consumption according to the degree of contamination. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the summer and fall of 2013. Thunnus tonggol and Liza klunzingeri were selected from the Bandar Abbas market, and Pleuronectiformes were caught from the sea. Heavy metal concentrations were determined by atomic absorption. Risk assessment and allowable consumption levels were determined according to methods provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Results: The highest average levels of Ni and Cr in Thunnus tonggol were 0.059 and 0.234 (μg/g dry weight), respectively. The highest average level of Hg in Pleuronectiformes was 0.095 (μg/g dry weight), and the highest average level of Pb in Liza klunzingeri was 0.006 (μg/g dry weight). The target hazard quotient (THQ) for all analyses of metals in the studied species and the hazard index (HI) were less than 1 for all three species. Conclusion: The results showed that despite Ni, Cr, Hg, and Pb pollution, the consumption of up to 4 (kg/d) of Thunnus tonggol by adults and up to 2.2 (kg/d) by children does not cause health problems in terms of the tested heavy metals. For Liza klunzingeri, these levels are 7.32 and 4.02 (kg/d), respectively

Heavy metals bioaccumulation in fish of southern Iran and risk assessment of fish consumption

Background: This study purposed to assess the health risks of heavy metals including nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) in three widely-consumed fish from the coast of Bandar Abbas (Persian Gulf) and to determine the maximum amounts allowed for consumption according to the degree of contamination. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the summer and fall of 2013. Thunnus tonggol and Liza klunzingeri were selected from the Bandar Abbas market, and Pleuronectiformes were caught from the sea. Heavy metal concentrations were determined by atomic absorption. Risk assessment and allowable consumption levels were determined according to methods provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Results: The highest average levels of Ni and Cr in Thunnus tonggol were 0.059 and 0.234 (µg/g dry weight), respectively. The highest average level of Hg in Pleuronectiformes was 0.095 (µg/g dry weight), and the highest average level of Pb in Liza klunzingeri was 0.006 (µg/g dry weight). The target hazard quotient (THQ) for all analyses of metals in the studied species and the hazard index (HI) were less than 1 for all three species. Conclusion: The results showed that despite Ni, Cr, Hg, and Pb pollution, the consumption of up to 4 (kg/d) of Thunnus tonggol by adults and up to 2.2 (kg/d) by children does not cause health problems in terms of the tested heavy metals. For Liza klunzingeri, these levels are 7.32 and 4.02 (kg/d), respectively

Seasonal variation of phytoplankton populations in relation to hydro-biological factors in coastal waters of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea (Hormozgan province)

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between environmental factors and phytoplankton community structure and abundance. The samples were collected from 11 stations selected at Hormozgan coastal waters of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea in winter 2015 and summer 2016. Various environmental factors including water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, nitrite, nitrate, and silicate as well as biological parameters such as chlorophyll a and phytoplankton community were measured. The results showed that the maximum phytoplankton density (1.25×106 cell/L) was in summer and the minimum density (2.01×105cell/L) was in the winter season. Based on the results, 46 genera belonging to five phyla of phytoplanktons were recorded. Bacilariophyta and Dinophyta were the most dominant phylum of the total phytoplankton communities. The results of this study revealed that water temperature, salinity, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, and chlorophyll-a were the most important factors affecting the dynamics of total phytoplankton distribution in coastal waters of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea

Temporal variability in macroinvertebrates diversity patterns and their relation with environmental factors

Abstract. Gerami MH, Patimar R, Negarestan H, Jafarian H, Mortazavi MS. 2015. Temporal variability in macroinvertebrates diversity patterns and their relation with environmental factors. Biodiversitas 17: 36-43. Seasonal changes are the most important factor in temporal variability of macroinvertebrates communities in marine benthic zone. Realizing the pattern of these changes are the key attributes to maintain benthic resources. For this purpose this study aimed to investigate temporal variability of macroinvertebrates diversity patterns in different seasons in Hormozgan province waters, Persian Gulf. Five sites were identified and sampling was carried out randomly at three places with three replicate in each site from autumn 2014 to spring 2015. Physiochemical properties of water were recorded in each sampling site. Total of 19 macroinvertebrate orders were identified form four seasons in all sites. Results showed that Polychaeta were dominant taxa in all seasons and maximum diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates exhibited in winter. According to evenness index (E1), abundances of species were most balanced in spring. Analysis of weight and density revealed that the species diversity and mean weight of macroinvertebrates had maximum in winter and minimum in summer. Macroinvertebrate community structure was similar in the spring and summer and partly discriminated from remaining two seasons. SIMPER analysis confirmed these dissimilarities and revealed that Foraminifera, Gastropoda and Polychaeta have three major contributions in dissimilarities between seasons. According to BIO-ENV analysis, oxygen and chlorophyll a were the best variables (r = 0.7143) explaining changes in the abundance over time of the benthic fauna under study. On the contrary, eight orders (Amphipoda, Secernentea, Cumacea, Euphausiacea, Gastropoda, Isopoda, Anthozoa and Sagittoidea) did not show any convergence with environmental factors in this study

Health risk of PCBs and DDTs in seafood from Southern Iran

Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) congeners and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs) were measured in 18 species of fish, crab, shrimp, and bivalve samples collected from the northern region of the Persian Gulf in Iran. The levels of ∑PCBs varied from 259.92 ± 31.04 ng/g to 1648.88 ± 176.96 ng/g in lipid weight. CB118 showed the highest concentration. ∑DDT variations ranged from ND to 570.45 ± 806.74 ng/g in lipid weight. Health risk was assessed by estimating both dietary intakes and screening values (SVs). Daily intake levels were much lower than the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) standards for PCBs and DDTs. Based on an average bodyweight of 73 kg and consumption rates of 0.055 kg/person. day, the SVs for the carcinogen and non-carcinogen effects of PCB and DDT were calculated. Average concentrations of PCBs and DDTs showed that the levels of PCBs exceeded the established SV for carcinogens. This finding suggests the need to enhance risk management regarding seafood consumption through public advisory

Influence of environmental factors on the characteristics of macrobenthic communities in soft bottoms around coral reefs of Larak Island (Persian Gulf)

The effective conservation of coastal ecosystems including soft bottoms around coral reefs of Larak Island, Persian Gulf, is requiring basis data on community structure at different relevant spatial scales. In this regard, the diversity and the abundance of the macrobenthic communities in soft bottoms around coral reefs of this area were described in relation to different environmental factors. A seasonal sampling was conducted at two stations located in the east and west of Larak Island, respectively, during 4 seasons, from spring to winter 2012. A total of 20 species which belong to 20 genera and 14 families were identified. The macrobenthic density showed significant differences among seasons. The Shannon-Wiener index ranged from 2.07 to 2.89 indicating a moderate diversity in both stations. The maximum diversity of macrobenthic organisms was observed during spring. A non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis showed a large overlap in the macrobenthic community structure between the two stations. A principal component analysis (PCA) analysis indicated that the main environmental factors controlling macrobenthic density were phosphate, dissolved oxygen and total organic matter (TOM). Our results indicated that coral macrobenthic communities in Larak Island were characterized by low density and uniform distribution of species