Assessment of Cu and Zn in Water, Sediments and in the Carnivorous Fish, Channa gachua from River Swat and River Barandu, Malakand Division, Pakistan

This research work was conducted to assess the concentrations of Cu and Zn in the water, sediments and in the freshwater carnivorous fish, Channa gachua, of River Swat and River Barandu in Malakand Division, Pakistan. Samples were collected at selected sites on the two rivers and analyzed for these metals by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean concentrations of Cu and Zn in fish muscles at different sites of River Swat were 0.57-2.38 and 1.28-3.95mgkg(-1) wet weight, respectively, while corresponding concentrations for River Barandu were 0.67-1.70 and 3.27-5.18mgkg(-1) wet weight. Both the metals showed a lower degree of bioaccumulation in the fish muscles as the bioaccumulation factor values were lower than 1. Liver and gills showed higher metal accumulations compared to muscles. The potential human health risk assessment shows that presently both these metals do not pose any toxicological threat to the health of the fish consumers.