The relationship between the content of lead and cadmium in muscle tissue and the size of fish from lakes in the Olsztyn Lake District of northeast Poland

Abstract

Concentrations of lead and cadmium were measured in the muscle of four fish species: pike, Esox lucius L., Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis L., roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.), and bream, Abramis brama (L.) collected from four lakes in the Olsztyn Lake District of northeast Poland. The fish were caught in the 1999-2000 period. Heavy metals contents were determined using the flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry method (GF AAS). The mean lead content in the muscle of pike, perch, roach, and bream was 0.084, 0.098, 0.094, and 0.083 mg kg^-1, respectively. Positive correlation coefficients (P< 0.001) were noted between Pb concentration and the body weight and total length of roach and perch (0.481 < r < 0.676, respectively). Negative correlation factors between Pb content and the body weight and length of pike (r = - 0.378, P < 0.01 and r = - 0.549, P < 0.001) and bream (r = - 0.557 and r = - 0.519, P < 0.001, respectively) were noted. The mean content of cadmium in the muscle of pike, perch, roach, and bream ranged from 0.0023 to 0.0025 mg kg-1. There were positive correlations between the levels of Cd in the muscle of roach and perch and body weight (r = 0.401, P < 0.01 and r = 0.323, P < 0.05, respectively) and total length (r = 0.436, P < 0.01 and r = 0.354, P < 0.05, respectively). The correlation coefficients between body weight and total length and the content of cadmium in pike and bream were – 0.228< r < 0.075.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:

Dr Joanna Łuczyńska, Uniwersytet Warmińsko-Mazurski, Wydział Nauki o Żywności, Katedra Towaroznawstwa i Badań Żywności, Plac Cieszyński 1, 10-726 Olsztyn, Tel./Fax: +48(89) 5234729;
e-mail: jlucz@uwm.edu.pl