Acta Vet. Brno 2010, 79: 335-345

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb201079020335

Concentrations of Metals in Tissues of Fish from the Věstonice Reservoir

Renáta Kenšová1, Olga Čelechovská2, Jana Doubravová1, Zdeňka Svobodová1

1Department of Veterinary Public Health and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology,
2Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brno, Czech Republic

Received May 12, 2009
Accepted October 21, 2009

The aim of the present work was to compare the distribution of selected metals in tissues of several fish species caught in the Věstonice reservoir. The hygienic quality of fish meat was assessed with respect to the mercury concentration. A total of 35 fish of the following species were caught: carp (Cyprinus carpio), bream (Abramis brama), asp (Aspius aspius), pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) and pike (Esox lucius). Samples of muscle, liver (hepatopancreas), kidney, gonads and gills were analyzed. Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn and Cr concentrations in fish tissues were determined by the AAS. The results showed that different metals differ in their affinity to different fish tissues (e.g. Cu - liver, Cd - kidney). Mercury concentrations along the food chain increase, i.e. higher mercury concentrations are found in predatory fish. Contrary to mercury, cadmium and lead concentrations do not show any increases along the fish part of food chain in surface water ecosystems. In predatory fish, lower concentrations of these metals were found than in nonpredatory fish species. Differences in concentrations between ovaria and testes were found only in Cu and Zn. To evaluate possible health risks of mercury concentrations for consumers, the risk index was calculated and maximum admissible amounts of muscle meat for consumption were determined. The results confirmed good hygienic quality of market-ready fish from the Věstonice reservoir.

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