Metal Bioaccumulation by Carp and Catfish Cultured in Lake Chapala, and Weekly Intake Assessment

Abstract

Aquaculture offers great potential for fish production in Lake Chapala, but reports of heavy metal contamination in fish have identified a main concern for this activity. In the present study, cultures of the species Cyprinus carpio and Ictalurus punctatus were grown in a net cage in Lake Chapala. The patterns of heavy metal accumulation (Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, Pb, As) in muscle and liver were monitored in order to evaluate the level of metal incorporation in the fish. Estimates of weekly metal intake (EWI) were made based on the results of the concentrations in edible parts of fish of commercial size. The patterns of metal bioaccumulation between tissues and species showed that liver had a higher concentrating capacity for Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb. In contrast, similar concentrations of Hg and As were found in the liver and muscle tissue. According to the EWI estimates, the heavy metals in these cultured fish do not represent a risk for human consumption.