Lead pollution in Hamoon wetland: interspecific differences in fish and standards and guidelines for humans

The aim of this study is determination of lead concentration in water, sediment and fish from Hamoon wetland and its comparison with international standards. Analysis of lead concentrations was performed by atomic absorption Perkin Elmer 4100 device. Fish species, water and sediments were collected from Hamoon- e-Saburi wetland. Mean concentrations of Pb in muscle of Ctenopharyngodon idella, Cyprinus carpio, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Schizocypris altidorsalis, and Schizothorax zardunyi were 0.32, 0.39, 0.35, 0.72 and 0.81 mg/kg respectively, and 0.74, 0.79, 0.74, 0.76 and 0.83 mg/kg in kidney, respectively. Lead concentrations in three stations were 0.40, 0.41 and 0.42 mg/kg, and Pb in sediments was 0.83, 1.15 and 1.21 mg/kg. The results of laboratory analysis showed that there are not any significant correlation between the concentration of lead in the kidney and muscle (r=0.14). Lead concentrations in Ctenopharyngodon idella, Cyprinus carpio, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix was under the scope proposed by FAO, WHO, FDA, TAL, UK (MAFF) and NHMRC, but lead concentration in Schizocypris altidorsalis, and Schizothorax zardunyi were higher than WHO and TAL. The results showed that water lead concentration was not statistically different between the three stations, but there was a significant difference between the concentrations of lead in three station sediments.