ACCUMULATION OF TOXIC ELEMENTS IN FISH FROM OHRID LAKE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES

Blazhekovikj - Dimovska, Dijana and Ukoski, Mirko (2024) ACCUMULATION OF TOXIC ELEMENTS IN FISH FROM OHRID LAKE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES. Croatian Journal of Fisheries, 82 (4). pp. 137-144. ISSN 1848-0586

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Abstract

Water ecosystems are under intense anthropogenic influence, which leads to an increased presence of pollutants, including a large number of toxic substances, primarily heavy metals, which requires constant monitoring.
Fish are one of the most indicative factors for assessing water pollution with harmful elements, and this is important not only for environmental protection but also for the assessment of meat quality and the potential risk to the human population. The main goal of this research was to
analyze the level of accumulation of heavy metals and metalloids, such as arsenic (As), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in the muscle tissue of commercially important fish species from Ohrid Lake, to compare their concentrations in different fish species, to apply the index of heavy metal pollution in the assessment of water pollution, and to make a comparison of the concentrations of accumulated heavy metals and metalloids in the muscle tissue of the examined fish species
with the maximal permitted concentrations prescribed by the legal regulations. The research area was in Ohrid Lake, Macedonia. The most important commercial fish species from Ohrid Lake, i.e. common carp, Ohrid trout, and barbel, were sampled 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 sampling 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
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 on the basis of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1881/2006. This means that the fish species analyzed are safe for consumption and comply with regulatory guidelines, thus ensuring the protection of consumer health.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Scientific Fields (Frascati) > Agricultural Sciences > Agriculture, forestry and fisheries
Divisions:	Faculty of Biotechnical Sciences
Depositing User:	Prof. d-r Dijana Blazhekovikj - Dimovska
Date Deposited:	10 Apr 2025 09:31
Last Modified:	10 Apr 2025 09:31
URI:	https://eprints.uklo.edu.mk/id/eprint/10886

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