Distribution of Metals in Tissues of the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

The aim of the present study was to investigate the distribution of selected metals (As, Cd,Pb, Hg, Cr, Cu and Zn) in tissues of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) grown in ponds. A total of 125 market-ready carp (aged 3 - 4 years, weight 2312 ± 583 g) from 10 fishponds in the Czech republic were analysed. The tissues analysed included muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, gills, ovaria and testes. Metal concentrations were determined by the AAS, mercury was determined using a cold-vapour AAS analyse (AMA 254). Results showed different affinities of metals to different tissues. The highest concentrations of As and Hg were in muscle tissue, Cu in the liver, and Cd and Zn in the kidneys, compared with levels in other tissues (p p p p < 0.01) were found in the ovaria compared with the testes. The study showed that meat and gonads of pond carp in the Czech republic are safe from the point of view of contamination with the metals investigated

Arsenic Content in Tissues of Fish from the River Elbe

The aim of the study was to evaluate arsenic content in tissues (muscle, liver, kidneys, gonads) of fish caught in selected localities along the River Elbe and its tributary the Vltava in 1999, 2002 and 2003, and in pools of the River Elbe in 2000. A total of 118 bream and 151 perch were examined by AAS. The highest muscle tissue arsenic concentrations were found in Zelãín in bream in 2003 (0.17 ± 0.08 mg·kg-1) and in perch in 2002 (0.084 ± 0.012 mg·kg-1). The highest arsenic concentrations in perch were found in the kidneys, followed by the liver, milt, muscle tissue and eggs. An increase (P &lt; 0.01) in arsenic concentrations in 2003 (after floods) compared with 2002 was found in bream muscle tissues in Zelãín and in perch muscle tissues in Podolí; a decrease in arsenic concentrations was demonstrated in perch musculature in Verdek, Nûmãice, Hfiensko (P &lt; 0.01) and in bream musculature in Hfiensko (P &lt; 0.05). Arsenic contamination in the localities under study does not pose a major environmental or health risk. River Vltava, Elbe pools, bream, perch, As distribution, AAS Arsenic is brought to the environment through natural and anthropogenic routes. The most serious sources of arsenic pollution include emissions and waste water of the ore mining and processing industry, dye manufacture facilities, tanneries, and also thermal power plants, application of certain insecticides, herbicides, etc. Because arsenic accompanies phosphorus, it is also found in wash water. Arsenic has a considerable tendency to accumulate in bottom sediments (Pi t ter 1999). For that reason, issues relating to arsenic content in aquatic organisms, and sea fish in particular, have attracted considerable attention (Lai et al. 2001). A number of recent studies have dealt with arsenic compounds speciatio

Heavy Metals in Brown Bears from the Central European Carpathians

The aim of the present study was to assess heavy metal load in the brown bear (Ursus arctos) living in the central European Carpathians. Between 2002 and 2004, fifteen bears were examined to evaluate the distribution of cadmium, lead, mercury and copper in the animals' muscles (diaphragm), spleen, liver and kidney. The highest content of cadmium, lead and mercury was found in the kidney (17.4 ± 5.2 mg kg-1, 1.16 ± 0.39 mg kg-1, 0.39 ± 0.25 mg kg-1), whereas the lowest content of the metals was observed in the muscles (0.017 ± 0.009 mg kg-1, 0.299 ± 0.308 mg kg-1, 0.013 ± 0.011 mg kg-1). Second highest concentration of cadmium, lead and mercury was detected in the liver (0.83 ± 0.24 mg kg-1, 0.99 ± 0.61 mg kg-1, 0.11 ± 0.05 mg kg-1). Copper distributions and concentrations in bear tissues were as follows (in descending order): liver (23.9 ± 6.7 mg kg-1), > kidneys (9.0 ± 3.3 mg kg-1), > muscles (1.9 ± 1.6 mg kg-1) and > spleen (1.0 ± 0.2 mg kg-1). As compared with heavy metal load observed in bear tissues between 1988 and 1990, the concentration of cadmium in the muscles and liver was significantly lower (p p p < 0.01). Lead and copper tissue concentrations did not change substantially