Jaleel Tariq

Pollution status of the Indus River, Pakistan, through heavy metal and macronutrient contents of fish, sediment and water

Concentrations of Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg, together with Na, K, Ca and Mg in 19 species of fish captured from the Indus River, Pakistan, are estimated by the atomic absorption method. Corresponding data for sediment and water from 11 sites along the down-stream route of the river are also reported. Mercury and arsenic concentrations were high (3.920 and 3.072 μg/g, respectively) in the muscle of fish from Guddu barrage as compared with those from other sites. Hetroptirus fossilus showed maximum concentrations of Ag, Cu and Pb in its muscle as compared with other fish. Labeo calbasu from Guddu barrage showed highest As concentration at 3.072 μg/g. Mystus vitatus from Chashma barrage contained maximum cadmium concentration at 0.990 μg/g. Several other fish exhibited elevated levels of metals along the downstream route of the river, a trend exhibited also by the elevated metal contents of sediment and water at Guddu and Lloyd barrages. The study indicated a gross pollution of the sediment and water at various locations of the river, e.g. As (7.452 μg/g) in sediment from Lloyd barrage, Hg (5.710 μg/g) in sediment from Jinnah barrage, Pb (2.709 μg/g) in sediment from Guddu barrage and Mn (0.038 μg/g) in water from Lloyd barrage. The macronutrients showed an inverse relationship with trace metals. Hetroptirus fossilus could be used as indicator species for Ag, Cu and Pb.

Contents of trace metals in fish, sediment and water from three freshwater reservoirs on the Indus River, Pakistan

Ashraf, M., Tariq, J. and Jaffar, M., 1991. Contents of trace metals in fish, sediment and water from three freshwater reservoirs on the Indus River, Pakistan. Fish. Res., 12: 355-364. Concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg are reported in 11 common fish species, along with relevant sediment and water, from three freshwater reservoirs and the outfail area of the Indus River, Pakistan. Rita rita, Wallago attu and Cirrhinus mrigala common to the three reservoirs, and Channa marulius, Mystus vittatu, Catla catla, Labeo calbasu, Mustacembelus panacalus, Notopterus notopterus and Mystus seenghala from the outfall area are included in the study. The criterion of weight dependence of trace metals is examined on the basis of the baseline metal data for the species from the three freshwater reservoirs. Metal concentrations in Rita rita from the Tarbela reservoir ranged from 0.082 to 6.715/~g g- ~, wet weight, for Cd and Fe, and were higher than those in Wallago attu and Cirrhinus mrigala. Rita rita from the Lloyd reservoir showed a range of trace metals from 0.120 gg g- t to 2.850/~g g- 1, for Cr and Fe respectively. In the remaining fish, As ranged from 0.005 to 0.110 #g g- i, Cr from 0.065 to 0.44/tg g- 1, Cu from 0.002 to 0.180/tg g- t, Fe from 0.725 to 3.445 #g g- t and Hg from 0.240 to 4.785/tg g- ~. The present study showed no correlation between the trace metal contents in water, sediment and fish. The findings are examined in terms of the probable pollution of the Indus River by industrial and municipal wastes.

Concentration correlations between major cations and heavy metals in fish from the Arabian Sea

Abstract Concentrations of eleven heavy metals (Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg) and four major cations (Na, K, Ca, and Mg) in the muscle of Loligo duvauceli, Sardinella longiceps , and Lapturacanthus savala , each harvested from ten near-shore and off-shore coastal sites of the Arabian Sea, Pakistan, are reported. Significant correlations (r≥0.468) are estimated between the concentrations of trace metals and major cations to identify the pollution status of the area in terms of fish-specificity and site-specificity. Stronger correlations (r≥0.900) were observed to exist between calcium and magnesium and Cd, Fe, Hg, Mn, and Pb in Loligo duvauceli , for Cr, Mn, Ni, and Pb in Sardinella longiceps and for Cd alone in Lapturacanthus savala . Possibility of use of these fish as indicators of metal pollution is explored.

Levels of selected heavy metals in commercial fish from five freshwater lakes, Pakistan

The levels of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg are estimated by atomic absorption in the muscle of six commercial species of fish belonging to five freshwater lakes of Pakistan. The species included Mastacembelus armatus, Tor putitura, Mystus seenghala, Wallago attu, Catla catla and Labeo rohita. The fish were procured in comparable weight ranges so that a viable comparison of trace metal content could be effected. As, Fe, Pb, Zn and Hg showed elevated levels of 0.006–6.967, 0.933–6.133, 0.060–4.108, 0.978–5.363 and 0.030–3.211 μg/g, wet weight. The relevant statistical parameters, such as standard deviation, standard error, skewness and its t‐value are also reported for establishing the randomness of the distribution in relation to the corresponding data of freshwater lakes of the world and examined in view of species‐specificity and origin.

Trace metal concentration, distribution and correlation in water, sediment and fish from the Ravi River, Pakistan

Abstract Fourteen commercial fish species, along with relevant water and sediment samples, from polluted and non-polluted sites of the Ravi River were analysed for 11 trace metals (Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg) and four major cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) using flame/flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The distribution pattern of trace metals in water, fish and sediment revealed that industrial and domestic effluents were responsible for the enrichment of metals in water at specific sites along the river. A linear correlation study incorporating paired variables (water-sediment, water-fish and fish-fish) showed a strong correlation (r≥0.900 at P=0.01), indicating a common metal pollution source at various sites.

Selected trace metals in fish, sediment and water from freshwater Tarbela Reservoir, Pakistan

Selected trace metals and macronutrients in the edible muscle of thirteen freshwater species, harvested from Tarbela Reservoir on the Indus River, Pakistan, along with relevant sediment and water are reported. The fish selected were: Catla catla, Channa marulius, Cirrhanus mrigala, Cyprinus carpio, Labeo calbasu, Labeo rohita, Mastacembelus aramatus, Mystus seenghala, Mystus vitatus, Notoptirus chitala, Rita rita, Tor putitora and Wallago attu. Labeo calbesu showed maximum levels of silver and arsenic at 1.179 and 0.713 μg/g, respectively, where as, Notoptirus chitala showed maximum concentrations of cadmium (1.013 μg/g). Mercury was at 2.870 μg/g in Channa marulius and lead at a concentration of 2.108 μg/g in Mastacembelus aramatus. A reciprocal relationship was observed between the macronutrient content and trace metal concentrations in species like Rita rita and Wallago attu. Sediment showed maximum concentrations of iron and manganese, whereas, arsenic and lead concentrations were observed at higher l...

Metal pollution status of the river Chennab, Pakistan through fish, water and sediment analysis

The pollution status of the river Chennab, Pakistan is assessed through the estimation of silver, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, zinc, mercury, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium in fish, water and sediment samples from three sites in close vicinity to industrial estates. The data revealed elevated levels of silver, arsenic, chromium, nickel and zinc in certain fish. Catla catla, Cirrhinus marigala and Labeo rohita showed elevated metal levels. The elevated metal levels were correlated with water but not with sediment. The origin of high metal concentrations were traced in municipal sewage, uncontrolled industrial effluents and other anthropogenic activities.

Annual variation of selected trace etals in freshwater lake fish, Abeo Rohita, as an index of nvironmental pollution

Annual variations in the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg in fish Labeo rohita from Rawal Lake, Pakistan, are reported. The results are reported on mean annual basis, along with statistical parameters such as variance, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis. Mathematical correlation coefficients between pairs of metals are reported at significant level of r = 0.468 (p = 0.000). Maximum concentration was found in the case of Zn (4.807 μg/g, wet weight) and the minimum for Cd (0.003 μg/g, wet weight). Some spurious concentration episodes for Ni, Cr, Cu and As were identified and explained in terms of probable anthropogenic sources. The study revealed that fish alone could not be used as a sole index of environmental pollution and there was a need to include the sediment‐water link to this effect.

Copper, iron, lead and zinc concentration distribution and correlation in fish from freshwater lakes, Pakistan

Concentrations of copper, iron, lead and zinc in edible muscle of ten fish species caught in three freshwater lakes of Pakistan were estimated by the atomic absorption method. The data indicated a high degree of species‐specificity in terms of metal accumulation in the muscle of various fish. Iron was found to have maximum concentration (14.940 μg/g) in Channa aruleus from Rawal lake, while in other species the metal was found at 5.390 and 4.480 μg/g. Copper levels ranged from 0.511 to 0.574 μg/g. The lead and copper levels in fish from Tarbela lake were lower than those for Rawal lake fish. Other metals showed divergent metal distribution. Simple and multiple metal correlation study showed correlation between iron and zinc in Labeo rohita and Channa aruleus. A strong dependence of the two metals was also observed for Mystus seenghala and Tor pitutora. The observed intermetallic relationships were, however, critically species‐specific and environment dependent.

Trace metals in fish, sediment and water from the south west coast of the Arabian sea, Pakistan

Concentrations of ten metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg) in the edible muscle of Arius maculatus captured from eight different near‐shore and off‐shore sites off the south west coast of the Arabian Sea, Pakistan, were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Relevant water and sediment samples from the sites were also analysed for the metals. Zinc showed the highest metal concentration (6.763 μg/g, wet weight) in the muscle of the fish, while Mn and Hg showed lowest level (0.019 μg/g, wet weight). Of all the metals investigated, largest scatter (measured as σ) was observed for Zn (σ = 2.058 /μg/g) in fish muscle, for Fe and Mn in sediment (σ = 27481 and 44.50 μg/g) and for As in water (σ = 0.270 μg/L). The metal distribution data pertaining to water, fish and sediment were examined on the basis of simple metal correlations. The statistical study revealed that Ni, Cr, Pb and Cu had significant positive correlations (r > 0.830 at ρ = 0.01). The finding substantiated a trace metal c...