Zinc Content in the Organs and Tissues of Freshwater Fish from the Kardjali and Studen Kladenets Dam Lakes in Bulgaria

Authors: ILIANA G. VELCHEVA

Abstract: A study was conducted to estimate zinc loads in the organs and tissues of Alburnus alburnus, Cyprinus carpio and Perca fluviatilis inhabiting 2 dam lakes Kardjali and Studen Kladenets, located along the Arda river (South Bulgaria). The zinc content was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using a Perkin Elmer 380 B apparatus .The effect of the temporal factor was proved over a 3-year study. The highest zinc concentrations in fish organs and tissues were detected in summer and autumn. The highest zinc loads were found in the kidney and liver, and the lowest in the muscles of the 3 fish species tested. A correlation was found between the zinc levels in the water and those in the fish.

Keywords: Fish, zinc, biomonitoring

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