Trace Metal Contents in Fish Species from Ataturk Dam Lake (Euphrates, Turkey)

Abstract

The Zn, Cu, As, Cd, Hg and Pb levels of the popular species (Si hints triostegus, Acanthobrama marmid, Aspius vorax, Capoeta trutta, Carasobarbus luteus, Chalcalburnus mossulens and Cyprinus carpio) of Ataturk Dam Lake (Euphrates, Turkey) were studied to estimate the risk of human consumption and pollution of Euphrates River which is important for Turkey, Syria and Iraq. Trace metal amounts differed between the species (P<0.05) even they were living in similar habitats. The variations of measured heavy metals (mg/kg d.w.) were 10.27-19.74 for Zn; 0.101-2.785 for Cu, 0.164-0.279 for As; ND (Not determined)-0.649 for Hg; ND-0.236 for Pb. Cd was not determined during the study. Regarding the Zn, Cu, Cd, and As contents, the samples were safe for human consumption. Mercury and lead were not detected in some of the samples, but their amounts exceeded the limits in S. triostegus and A. marmid, respectively. It was concluded that the fish from Ataturk Dam Lake are not heavily burdened with metals, but they should be controlled periodically to avoid excessive intake of trace metals by human, and to monitoring the pollution of aquatic environment.