Heavy metals(Al-Ni-Pb-Hg-Cr) in Vimba vimba persa in Anzali on the Caspian Sea coasts

Ten specimen of Vimba vimba persa fish were caught using a bach seine net by local fishermen in December 2013 from the Anzali coasts (Anzali Wetland openings). Samples were transferred to the laboratory and then the fish gender was determined. Biometry of each was done. Samples consisted of 6 female and 4 male. Average length of females and males were 19.21 ± 1.01 and 18.65±0.264 cm respectively and the average weight of females and males were 68.8± 8.160 and 62.9±2.201 gr respectively. Then, 1 gram of every fish muscle was separated and Al, Ni, Cr, Pb were measured in the muscles after chemical digestion using ICP. Hg measurement in muscles was done by atomic absorption using cold vapor method. Each treatment had 3 replicates. The amount of metals in both females and males was as follows Al> Ni> Pb> Hg> Cr. Significant differences between the concentrations of these metals were not observed in both males and females (P≥0.05). By comparing the concentration of studied heavy metals with international standards (WHO, FAO, SAW, FEPA) showed that mercury levels in males and females were 0.22± 0.05 and 0.20±0.06 milligram in kilogram respectively (WHO=0.1-0.5), chromium in both sex was less than 0.01 milligrams in kilogram (WHO=0.15) and lead in males was 0.85± 0.44 and in females were 0.58± 0.36 milligram in kilogram (WHO= O/5-1/5) and each 3 metals were less than the international standard levels. The concentration of Aluminum in males was 1.95±0.51 and in females was 1.23±0.59 milligram in kilogram (SAW=0/03) and Nickel was 1.60±2.00 and 0.766± 0.18 milligram in kilogram in males and females respectively (WHO=0.5-0.6), which exceeded of international standards.