Assessment of heavy metal contamination in two edible fish species Carassius carassius and Triplophysa kashmirensis of Dal Lake, Srinagar, Kashmir, India

The present study was aimed to examine the concentration of heavy metals in the two edible fish species Carassius carassius and Triplophysa kashmirensis of the Dal Lake (Srinagar, Jammu, and Kashmir, India). Metals cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr) were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Differences in the heavy metal accumulation were observed between the two species as well as between different sizes of the same species. Small size fishes exhibited more concentration of heavy metals than the larger size fishes of the same species. Heavy metals were found in the ranking order of Zn>Cr>Pb>Cu>Mn>Cd in both species of fishes and in both sizes as well. Zn, being the most concentrated metal found in both species, can pose a threat in the near future. Since both species are edible and constitute an essential part of human diet, the heavy metals assessed can be bioaccumulated in humans when consumed; hence, an extensive investigation is needed to evaluate the heavy metal concentration of other edible fishes of the Dal Lake in the future. The study will also be helpful in providing baseline data on the heavy metal accumulation of edible fish species in freshwater ecosystems.