Iranian Journal of

Background and Objectives: In recent years, anthropogenic and natural activities have caused high levels of metal contamination into the aquatic ecosystem. These pollutants can accumulate in the food chain. The present study examined the amount of metals such as nickel, zinc, and vanadium in the muscle tissue of Sander and Alosa because of their importance in the southeast of the Caspian Sea.            

Method and materials:  After bioassay, the samples of Sander and Alosa were prepared through acid digestion method and the amount of metals was measured using atomic absorption device (Scientific Equipment GBS).

Results:  Statistical tests showed that there was no significant difference between the amount of zinc in two species of the Sander and Alosa (p>0.05) while the amount of nickel and vanadium in Alosa was significantly higher than Sander (P> 0.05). Statistical analysis of differences in the accumulation of metals in Sander was: Zn>Ni ~ V and of Alosa was Zn>Ni ~ V. There was a correlation between nickel and vanadium of Sander and between zinc and vanadium of Alosa (p>0.05). The amount of nickel metal in both species and vanadium in Alosa were higher than the WHO guideline. The maximum and minimum THQ for Alosa were vanadium (0.059) and zinc (0.017) respectively. Whereas, for Sander, these values were zinc (0.016) and vanadium (0.004) respectively.  In general, the TQM measured in this study was <1, indicating no food risk in present consumption rate (21 g/day) of these fish.

Conclusion:  Food risk assessment of case study species indicates that the consumption of Sander and Alosa with the current consumption rate causes no danger to consumers from the viewpoint of zinc, nickle, and vanadium.