Assessment of heavy metal bioaccumulation in the muscle tissue of Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum) from the Siah Darvishan River, Guilan Province, Iran

Authors

Fisheries Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, Guilan, Iran

10.22092/ijfs.2026.136154

Abstract

In this study, the bioaccumulation of eleven metals (As, Fe, Hg, Zn, Pb, Se, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Ni) in the muscle tissue of 25 Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum) collected from the Siah Darvishan River, Guilan Province, Iran, during the summer of 2016 was investigated using varian atomic absorption spectroscopy. The mean concentrations of the metals (µg g⁻¹ d.w.) ranged as follows: Zn (34.87–36.12), Fe (29.15–33.34), Cu (7.57–8.84), Mn (1.89–2.23), As (0.80–0.87), Pb (0.73–0.88), Se (0.68–0.80), Cd (0.25–0.28), Ni (0.27–0.32), Cr (0.15–0.16), and Hg (0.08–0.09). According to the results, the mean concentrations of all elements in the muscle tissue of Caspian kutum were below the threshold limits recommended by FAO/WHO international standards, except for Mn (2.045±0.169), As (0.840±0.038), Pb (0.805±0.077), and Cd (0.265±0.011). Overall, the results indicate that the consumption of Caspian kutum from the Siah Darvishan River does not pose a significant health risk to consumers. Nevertheless, continuous environmental monitoring and regular assessment of metal contamination are essential to ensure long-term ecosystem health and food safety.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences
Volume 25, Issue 5
September 2026
Pages 863-876

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