Evaluating of Heavy Metal Contamination of Hg, Cd and Ni in Muscle Tissue and Skin of Ilish fish (Tenualosa ilisha) in Khuzestan Province

The aim of this study was to determine the accumulation of heavy metals (nickel, mercury and cadmium) in muscle and skin tissue of Tanoalosa ilisha in Khuzestan province (Karun River, Arvand Rud River, Bahrakan). For this purpose, after determining the stations by GPS, sampling of the Tanoalosa ilisha fish was performed using a fishing trip. After catching fish randomly, fish were placed in contact with ice in standard conditions and quickly transferred to the laboratory. Subsequently, the samples were evaluated for measuring the factors of this study based on international standard methods. The results of this experiment showed that the highest concentrations of heavy metals evaluated in this research (nickel, cadmium and mercury) were at the Bahrakan station and the lowest concentration of metals were in the Arvand Rud station. Generally, the concentration of nickel metal found in the fish muscle in Karun was 1±162.11 ???and Arvandroud Rud station, 0.0±908.09, was higher than the FDA limit. However, nickel in the Tanoalosa ilisha fish skin was higher than the permissible level in all three stations, 1±901.219, 1±588.22. 1±222.15. Regarding cadmium levels in muscle tissue at the Bahrekan and Karun stations, 0.0±547.08, 0.0±421.05, were higher than the WHO and below the FDA recommendations, but at Arvand river the levels were lower than WHO and FDA limits. However, the cadmium content of the endangered fish of all three stations, 0.0±648.106, 0.0±494.07, 0.0±340.09 was higher than the WHO standard and was below the FDA standard. The accumulation of mercury metal in skin tissue and Tanoalosa ilisha fish muscle in all three stations was lower than the FDA and FAO limits. In addition, the amount of elemental accumulation in fish skin was more intense than in muscle tissue.