HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN SELECTED EDIBLE FISHES FROM FISHING HARBOUR OF VISAKHAPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH,INDIA

Worldwide increase in consumption of fishes as food has immense therapeutic and nutritional benefits. Heavy metal contamination of marine water ecosystem occurring due to urban and industrial waste discharge, agricultural runoff and accidental spills of toxic chemicals is globally a rising concern and possesses a huge threat for human health due to their regular feeding habits. Humans consume heavy metal accumulated fish as a dietary uptake and are vulnerable to certain health risks. An attempt was made in the present investigation to monitor heavy metals concentration namely Mn, Ni, Co and Cu in different tissues (Gills, Muscle and Liver) of three selected edible fishes of Visakhapatnam namely Indian Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta), Yellowtail Scad (Atule mate) and Pink Perch (Nemipterus japonicas) in the vicinity of Visakhapatnam coast. The extent of metal concentration in the tissues ranged from Ni>Cu>Mn>Co. The levels of heavy metals varied among the various tissues in the fish species studied and the concentrations of the metals found in gill tissues were high