ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS IN WATER, SEDIMENTS AND SELECTED FRESHWATER FISH COLLECTED FROM GADILAM RIVER, TAMILNADU, INDIA

Contamination of heavy metals, namely, Cadmium, Chromium Copper, Lead, Iron, Zinc and Manganese were evaluated in the samples of water, sediment and selected Organs of Channa punctatus, Mystus vittatus, Mugil cephalus, Heteropnustes fossilis and Chanos chanos of Gadilam River at Visoor, Cuddalore district collected during the January 2010- December 2010. The selected organs of the five freshwater fish accumulated varying the quantities of different heavy metals. The fish organs viz., Liver, Gill, Kidney, Intestine and Muscle from the selected five freshwater fish were carefully dissected for determination of heavy metals. The levels of heavy metals were determined using ELICO’s SL-176 double beam Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS).The distribution of heavy metals in Sediment and Water samples analyzed were in the order of magnitude as by Cd > Cr > Cu > Pb > Fe > Zn > Mn. The distribution of heavy metals in selected organs analyzed were in the order of magnitude as liver > Kidney > Gill > Intestine > Muscle. The result shows the Cadmium concentration were the maximum levels followed by Cr > Cu > Pb > Fe >Zn > Mn. The highest concentration level of Cadmium was observed in liver tissue of Channa punctatus. The lowest concentration levels of Manganese were observed in muscle tissue of Channa punctatus. These levels of heavy metals accumulated by the five freshwater fish species were exceed the maximum permissible limits values of heavy metals for fish tissues as prescribed by various national and international agencies. These levels of heavy metals accumulated by the five freshwater fish species might be due to the increase in agricultural influx waters, domestic wastes and some anthropogenic activities.