Seasonal variations of some trace elements concentrations in silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix consolidated from farms in central Iraq

Abstract EN

Trace elements (cobalt, iron, nickel, manganese, copper and cadmium) were studied at three organs (muscles, liver and gills) of the body of fish, silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) during the period from autumn 2009 to summer 2010.

The concentrations of these elements were measured using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry.

Results showed that the trace elements (cobalt, iron, nickel, manganese, copper and cadmium) in muscles were ranged from ((ND (spring) to 5.54 (summer) ; 40.68 (winter) to 72.10 (summer) ; 55.23 (autumn) to 69.23 (summer) ; 3.12 (winter) to 5.72 spring) ; ND (winter) to 14.34 (summer) ; 1.16 (autumn) to 2.89 (spring)) μg / g dry weight, respectively.

While in liver were ranged from ((5.22 (spring) to 16.71 (summer) ; 55.80 (winter) to (98.90 autumn) ; 70.45 (winter) to 89.18 (autumn) ; 6.01 (summer) to 10.99 (spring) ; 20.10 (autumn) to 30.22 (summer) ; 6.50 (autumn) to 12.69 (summer)) μg / g dry weight, respectively.

Also, in gills were ranged from ((11.13 (spring) to 19.36 (summer) ; 50.50 (winter) to 83.91 (summer) ; 58.28 (summer) to 78.91 (winter) ; 7.00 (summer) to 13.62 (autumn) ; 11.30 (autumn) to 23.61 (summer) 8.51 (summer) to 10.22 (winter)) μg / g dry weight, respectively.

Generally, the concentrations of these elements in liver were higher than in muscles and gills.

The trace elements concentration had been distributed during the seasons as follow : summer > spring > autumn > winter.