Muscular concentration of cadmium and lead in carp, mullet and kutum of the Gorgan Bay, Caspian Sea

We assessed muscular concentration of cadmium and lead in carp, mullet and kutum of the Gorgan Bay in south-east of the Caspian Sea. Atomic absorption was used in the process for 90 specimens of the three fish collected during September 2006 to March 2007. The average concentration of lead in the three fish (carp, mullet, kutum) were 0.242, 0.118 and 0.08ppm (Mg/Kg and for cadmium were 0.014, 0.018 and 0.017ppm (Mg!Kg), respectively. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant difference in concentration of cadmium for the fish species (P=0.251) while this difference was significant for lead (P<0.007). Tukey test showed significant difference for lead concentration between carp and mullet (P=0.028) and also between carp and kutum (P=0.01) but this difference was not significant between mullet and kutum (P=0.927). Pearson's test showed no significant statistical correlation between lead and cadmium concentrations in the selected fish species (P=0.557). Also t-test showed that the average concentration of cadmium and lead in the fish species are significantly lower than the accepted standard levels (P<0.001) set by WHO and are thus appropriate for human consumption.