Investigation of heavy metal accumulation in the water, sediment and fish species from the Atatürk Dam Lake

V SUMMARY In this study, the heavy metal concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in the muscles, livers and gills of economically important species, Acanthobrama marmid Heckel, 1843, Liza dbu Heckel, 1843 Chalcalbunus mossulensis (Heckel,1843), Chondrostoma reqium (Heckel, 1843), Carasobarbus luteus (Heckel, 1843), Capoetta trutta (Heckel, 1843), Cyprinion macrostomus Heckel, 1843, Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758, caught from Atatürk Dam Lake, have been determined. Microwave digestion method followed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry analaysis showed that Co, Cd, Pb, Mo and Ni were at undetectable levels. The livers and gills of fish species examined were found to contain higher concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn, compared to the muscles. The results obtained from the metal analaysis of muscles from fish caught from Atatürk Dam Lake indicate that the levels of Cu, Fe and Zn were found to be acceptable for the fish and mollusks, authorised by Turkish Agricultural Ministry (20884 Act, 1991). The high levels of Fe, Cu and Zn were found in livers, whereas Mn was found high in gills from the studied fish species caught in Atatürk Dam Lake. The highest metal accumulation in the whole body was observed in Cyprinion macrostomus, whereas the lowest accumulation was observed in Acanthobrama marmid. The Cu accumulation in the liver of Liza dbu were found higher compared to other fish species. The heavy metal levels in fish examined were found to be at acceptable. However, although the heavy metal levels in Atatürk Dam Lake which is potantially important lake for aquatic products are low, we suggest that some precautions have to be taken for possible dangers from many sources.