Determination of cadmium and copper in fish samples from Sir and Menzelet Dam Lake Kahramanmaras, Turkey

The cadmium and copper levels were determined in the total of 126 fish samples which belongs to five fish species collected from Sir and Menzelet Dam Lakes in Kahramanmaras Province by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The concentrations of heavy metals were expressed as ppm wet weight of tissue. The mean levels of cadmium and copper in muscle, liver and gill tissues of Cyprinus carpio from the Menzelet Dam were found as 0.27, 0.91, 1.49 and 0.94, 1.2, 1.05, respectively. The mean levels of Cd in the muscle tissues of Leuciscus cephalus from the Menzelet Dam were found 0.32 ppm, Cd wasn't found in tissues of liver and gill. The mean levels of Cu in the muscle, liver and gill tissues were found as 3.17 ppm, 1.19 ppm, 0.96 ppm, respectively. The mean levels of the Cd and Cu in muscle and gill tissues of Acanthobrama marmid from the Sir Dam were found as 1.28, 2.64 and 0.72, 0.08, respectively. The levels of the Cd and Cu in muscle tissues of Cyprinus carpio from the Sir Dam were found 0.87 and 0.02 ppm, respectively. The mean levels of the Cd and Cu in the muscle and gill tissues of Chondrostoma regium from the Sir Dam were found to be 0.80, 2.62 and 0.67, 1.34 ppm, respectively. The mean levels of the Cd in the muscle tissues of the Silurus glanis was found as 0.60 ppm. In the muscle of the Silurus glanis from the Sir Dam, Cu was not found. The Sir Dam is more polluted than the Menzelet Dam from the point of Cd but less polluted than the Menzelet Dam From the point of Cu. A relationship was determined between species and their habitating region in terms of the levels reflected metal residues. In this study it was emphasized that the amounts of Cd and Cu in the samples were low, however, seas, lakes, rivers, soil, air and consumed foods etc. has to be controlled routinely.