Zohreh Ebrahimi Sirizi, Mohamad Sakizadeh, Abas Esmaili Sari, Nader Bahramifar, Seyed Mahmoud Ghasempouri, Keyvan Abbasi,
Volume 22, Issue 87 (Apr 2012)
Abstract
Background and purpose: The pollution of aquatic ecosystems with heavy metals, have always been a major concern for aquatic organisms and human health. Contaminants such as heavy metals are accumulated along the food chain and then transmitted to human body. Levels of contaminants in fish are of particular interest because of the potential risk to humans. This study examined the levels of cadmium, lead, zinc and copper in muscle tissue of Esox lucius from the Anzali international wetland and then compared them with the standards established for human health.
Materials and methods: This research was done on 26 Pike perch (Esox lucius) obtained from Anzali wetland by multimesh gill nets in September 2010. The samples were digested by concentrated nitric acid, and then were analyzed for Pb in a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer and for Cd, Cu, and Zn in a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
Results: Mean concentration of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn was 0.82 ± 0.06, 0.22 ± 0.02, 5.68 ± 0.31, 54.26 ± 0.87 (µg/g dry weight), respectively. The results showed no significant correlation between Pb, Cu and Zn concentrations with body weight and length but a significant negative correlation was observed between Cd concentration with body length (r= -0.88, P<0.05) and body weight (r= -0.9, P<0.05).
Conclusion: The levels of Zn, Cu and Pb were lower than the standard levels established by WHO, FAO, and EPA but levels of Cd exceeded the standards of WHO and EPA. These results can be a warning for consumers of these fish. According to the daily intake of heavy metals consuming this fish on weekly basis is not prohibited.
Nasrin Hassanzadeh, Abbas Esmaili Sari, Saber Khodabandeh, Nader Bahramifar,
Volume 24, Issue 117 (10-2014)
Abstract
Abstract
Background and purpose: Today, environmental pollution, especially pollution of aquatic ecosystems, has caused serious problems for humans and other organisms. Endocrine disrupting chemicals are a group of chemical compounds that have serious adverse effects on humans and animals reproduction system. Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are used as plasticizers which are easily released and transferred from plastics to the environment. To our knowledge, so far, no studies have been done in Iran on contamination levels of 2 PAEs, therefore, this study aimed to determine the concentration of di (2- ethylhexylphtalate) (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) in the surface water of Anzali wetland.
Material and methods: Water samples were taken from stations and prepared using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) method. Then, they were injected into the Gas Chromatography-mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).
Results: The concentration ranges of DEHP and DnBP in water samples were 0.41-31.15 and 0.03-21.84 (in µg/l), respectively. Among 30 samples analyzed, no sample was found to be free of DEHP and DBP, which indicates these two phthalate esters were ubiquitous in this wetland. The concentrations of DEHP and DnBP in eastern part of Anzali wetland were higher than those of the western part.
Conclusion: Results showed that the concentrations of DEHP and DnBP in the water of Anzali wetland were higher than the environmental risk limit (ERL). DEHP and DnBP are potentially hazardous to the aquatic organisms and humans and could cause serious infertility problems in male species. So, an effective PAE management and control strategy must be implemented in order to reduce the problems caused by PAEs in the environment.
