Differential tissue accumulation of arsenic and heavy metals from diets in three edible fish species

Abstract

Three different commercial fish species Odontesthes bonariensis, Rhamdia quelen and Oreochromis niloticus and fish feed were collected from four aquaculture farms. Heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) and arsenic concentration were determined by inductively coupled plasma– optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) in muscle, liver, gonad, skin, scale and fat from fish and in feed diets. Arsenic concentration was found in different tissues differing between species and within O. bonariensis. Cd was differentially accumulated in liver in O. bonariensis and R. quelen; however, in O. niloticus Cd was found in muscle and scales. Higher concentrations of Cr were determined in skin and scales of O. bonariensis and O. niloticus. Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn were found in all tissues being Cu and Fe concentrations higher in liver. Mn was differentially accumulated in O. bonariensis scales, however in R. quelen no significant differences were found and in O. niloticus liver was the main accumulation tissue. Zn concentration was higher in gonad, skin and liver from R. quelen and O. bonariensis, and in O. niloticus the highest concentration was found in scales. All the results were below the international limits for food safety except for the concentration of Cd in muscle and scales of O. niloticus.