Abstract
ABSTRACT This study was conducted in the River Panjkora, Pakistan, in order to assess the level of heavy metals accumulated in the liver, kidneys, gills and muscle tissues of three highly consumed fish species by the local community, Garra gotyla, Cyprinus carpio and Cyprinion watsoni. The heavy metals including manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) were determined in the collected fish specimens through an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Level of heavy metals significantly varied depending upon tissues type and fish species. Cyprinus carpio accumulated highest concentration of heavy metals, followed by Garra gotyla while Cyprinion watsoni accumulated least concentration of heavy metals. All the three species displayed significant differences in level of accumulated heavy metals. The order of accumulation in tissues was gills<muscles<kidney<liver. Cd and Ni were not detected in all collected specimens while Mn was not detected in the tissues of Cyprinion watsoni collected from the reference site.