DOI: 10.2478/cjf-2024-0017
Original scientific paper
Accumulation of toxic elements in fish from Ohrid Lake under the influence of anthropogenic activities
2024, 82 (4) p. 137-144
Dijana Blazhekovikj - Dimovska
Abstract
Water ecosystems are under the most intense anthropogenic influence, which leads to an increased presence of pollutants, and even a large number of toxic pollutants, primarily heavy metals, which requires the need for permanent monitoring. Fish are one of the most indicative factors for assessing water pollution with harmful elements, and this is important not only in the process of environmental protection but also in the assessment of meat quality and the potential risk to the human population.
The main goal of research in this paper was to analyze the level of accumulation of heavy metals and metalloids: arsenic (As), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in the muscle tissue of important fish species from Ohrid Lake, to compare the accumulated heavy metals and metalloids in the muscle tissue between different fish species, to apply the index of heavy metal pollution in the assessment of water pollution and to make a comparison of the concentration of accumulated heavy metals and metalloids in the muscle tissue of the examined fish species with the maximum allowed concentrations, prescribed by the legal regulations.
The research area was one of the most important lakes in Macedonia, Ohrid Lake. The most important commercial fish species from Ohrid Lake, i.e. common carp, Ohrid trout, and barbel, were taken as material for analysis.
Statistical analysis of the data showed significant differences (p<0.05) and significant variations in iron, chromium, copper, and zinc levels between different fish species and months, highlighting the importance of considering species-specific factors such as feeding, habitat preferences, and metabolic processes, in understanding the patterns of element accumulation, but also the temporal dynamics of element accumulation in fish.
Based on the data on the concentrations of toxic elements (Fe, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn) in the fish species common carp, Ohrid trout, and barbel during the examined months (May, September, December, February), it can be concluded that the obtained values are below the maximum allowed concentrations prescribed based on the Regulation of the European Commission (EU) no. 1881/2006. This means that the fish species analyzed are safe for consumption and comply with regulatory guidelines, ensuring the protection of consumers' health.
Keywords
toxic elements, common carp, Ohrid trout, barbel, Ohrid Lake