M. Jaffar

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.

Age- and sex-based comparative distribution of selected metals in the scalp hair of an urban population from two cities in Pakistan.

Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni in the scalp hair of male and female donors, with an age range of 6-60 years, were determined by ICP atomic emission spectroscopy. The donors were drawn from the densely populated city of Lahore and the relatively less-populated capital city of Islamabad for comparative evaluation of the metal levels in relation to age, sex and location. Linear regression analyses and correlation between paired metals indicated a positive correlation between Cu and Zn for both sexes ( [Formula: see text] ) and between Pb and Ni ( [Formula: see text] ) for males and females of Lahore. Metal concentrations varied between the two cities and the two sexes. The highest mean concentration was found for Zn at 180.5 microg g(-1) for males and 202.4 microg g(-1) for females from Lahore, while for counterparts from Islamabad the values were 105.2 microg g(-1) and 206.6 microg g(-1). Copper showed an identical mean concentration (20.8 microg g(-1)) in the hair of both males and females from Lahore; however, relatively lower mean concentrations (7.7 and 10.8 microg g(-1)) were observed for donors from Islamabad. Mean Pb concentrations in hair of male donors from Lahore and Islamabad were 9.4 and 7.0 microg g(-1), respectively; in female groups the concentrations were 14.3 and 5.7 microg g(-1), respectively. Ni showed the lowest concentration range (4.3-4.5 microg g(-1)) of all the four metals for subjects from Lahore, and this was higher than the corresponding range (2.0-3.2 microg g(-1)) for subjects from Islamabad. The findings are discussed in relation to the available data from the literature.

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.

Age and sex dependence of selected trace metals in scalp hair of urban population of Pakistan

Concentrations of ten metals (Ag, Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Sr, Ca and Mg) in scalp hair of urban donors from the city of Lahore, Pakistan were determined by the nitric acid/perchloric acid digestion based method by ICP-AES. The age and sex dependence of metal levels was investigated for the age groups 10-47 and 7-55 years, for females and males, respectively. In total 45 female and 42 male samples were analysed in triplicate. The maximum concentration in the male group was that of Fe, between 45 and 330 mg/kg, followed by Sr between 4.5 and 109 mg/kg. On average, the following order of metal concentration in male hair was observed: Ca > Mg > Fe > Sr > Al > Cu > Mn > Cr > Ag > Cd. For female samples Cu was found to have a maximum concentration (210 mg/kg) followed by Fe (170 mg/kg) and Sr (140 mg/kg). In this group the concentration order was: Ca > Mg > Cu > Fe > Sr > Al > Mn > Ag/Cr > Cd. A metal to metal correlation study showed that different metals were mutually correlated in male and female hair. Regression equations illustrated a distinct dependence of metal concentrations on the age of donors. The data are compared with corresponding data reported in the literature.

Weight dependence of arsenic concentration in the Arabian Sea tuna fish

The objective of the present investigation was to estimate the arsenic concentration in the edible muscle of Thunnus thynnus and Thunnus toggel (hereafter called tuna and longtail tune) as they have great commercial value. These fish are widely available along the coastal line of Pakistan and are consumed abundantly in large bulk. Thus, it was felt justifiable on the basis of safety of human health that data, in the first instance, be obtained on arsenic concentration in tuna as a function of weight to check whether the metal distribution was species-specific or it depended on individual mode of development. The data, the first of the kind so far presented on the Arabian Sea tuna, would thus provide the required baseline quantitative information needed in future studies on the physiological processes regulating the distribution and uptake of arsenic by these and other species of fish common to the region.

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.

Trace metal content of six Arabian Sea fish species using a direct nitric acid based wet oxidation method

A simple wet oxidation procedure, based on the use of nitric acid alone is presented for the estimation of trace metals in marine fish by atomic absorption method. Six Arabian sea fish species, salmon, tuna, silver pomfret, black pomfret, lontail tuna and Indian Oil‐sardine were analyzed for their trace metal content. The nearshore fish species caught off the Karachi coast were analyzed for nickel, copper, manganese, mercury, iron, chromium, cadmium, lead, zinc and arsenic. The results are quoted at ±S confidence level and are compared statistically with those attained by common wet oxidation and dry ashing methods in terms of standard deviation and coefficient of variation based on replicate measurements.

Utilization of scalp hair for evaluating epilepsy in male and female groups of the Pakistan population.

Concentrations of Fe, Cu, Zn, Cr, Mg and Ca are determined in scalp hair of adult epileptic and normal male and female subjects by atomic absorption spectroscopy. A total of 85 hair samples for normal male/female subjects and 78 of male/female epileptic subjects were analyzed within the respective age groups of 28 to 30 and 24 to 27 years. The study showed higher average concentration of Zn, Fe and Cu in normal male subjects compared with the epileptic subjects. Levels of Ca, Mg and Cr were lower in normal male adults than those found in epileptic subjects. Epileptic females showed higher average concentrations of Zn, Ca and Cu. The correlation coefficient study indicated significant correlation (r > 0.589 at P = 0.001) between Fe and Cr, Mg, Ca and Cu for epileptic females only. For normal male subjects Ca showed a strong correlation for Zn and Fe and for Cr and Ca. The regression analysis showed the significant role of Zn, Ca, Mg and Cr in scalp hair of normal and epileptic subjects. Accordingly, the metal-to-metal ratio analysis revealed critical Mg/Zn ratios as indicators of healthy (< 1) and epileptic (> 1) subjects. The ratio data are used for evaluation of the status of epileptic patients based on their ailment history.