HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION IN COMMON FISH (CYPRINUS CARPIO) OF THE LAGUNA DE BUSTILLOS, CHIHUAHUA, MÉXICO AND POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARD

Bioaccumulation of iron, silicon, strontium and zinc was determined in muscle and gills tissues of Cyprinus carpio. The fishes were obtained in the laguna de Bustillos, Mexico, which is an important ecosystem for being home to many migratory birds and aquatic fauna. Fish samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).The minimum and maximum levels of investigated elements (mg kg^-1 dry weight) in muscle tissues of the fish varied from 19.36 to 80.66 for iron; from 36.11 to 79.58 for zinc; and the levels for silicon and strontium were very low and undetectable, respectively. In gills, the levels were remarkably high compared to muscles, the levels found varied from 196.66 to 697.20 for iron; from 19.96 to 96.25 for silicon; from 121.98 to 281.37 for strontium and from 859.87 to 1654.99 for zinc. The statistical analysis showed no significant difference in heavy metals concentration between small and big size fish and also between male and female individuals. The investigated elements are not regulated under national or international standards, with the exception of zinc which is higher than the maximum permitted limits informed by World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in both gills and muscle samples. It was determined that heavy metal levels found in fish samples do not represent a risk for human consumption.