Presencia de mercurio, plomo y cobre en tejidos de Orechromis niloticus: sector de la cuenca alta del Rio Chicamocha, vereda Volcán, Paipa, Colombia
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Date
2015-07
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Corporación Universitaria Lasallista
Abstract
Introduction. Heavy metals are an important toxic
agent associated to environmental and industrial
contamination that accumulate via fish and food, and
are nowadays a public health issue, given their toxicity.
In the upstream Chicamocha river no studies to
determine mercury, copper and lead in fish have been
made, even considering the serious contamination
problems in the area due to an important industrial
activity. Objective. This research work aims to
determine the presence and the concentrations of
heavy metals in the livers, gills and muscular tissues
of Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), a species that
was brought and now is in a sector of the upstream
Chicamocha river, located at the Volcán village, in
Paipa. Materials and methods. Samples provided
by artisanal fishermen were analyzed. The metals
were determined by means of atomic absorption
spectrophotometry. 12 samples from 4 specimens
were assessed. Results. The highest mercury
concentration was registered in livers and gills (5
µg/g) and the lowest, in muscular tissues (0,01 µg/g); as
for lead and copper, the highest concentrations were
0,51µg/g in gills and 3,2 µg/g in livers, respectively.
The samples did not exceed the threshold allowed
by Colombian regulations and, due to the data from
other studies. Conclusion. It is necessary to make
wider research works in order to make a deeper
characterization of the source and the cause of this
contamination with metals. An identification of the
population with potential of consuming these fish and
establishing their representativeness in the diet of
the region´s artisanal fishermen is recommended, in
order to discard possible health hazards.
Description
Keywords
Corporación Universitaria Lasallista, Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá, Río Chicamocha, Municipio de Paipa, Metales pesados, Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus), Contaminación por metales pesados, Contaminación del agua, Alimentos contaminados, Peces