Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Rastrelliger kanagurta along the coastal waters of Visakhapatnam, India

Twenty-three metals were evaluated in Indian Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) collected at nine fishing set-tlements along the coastal waters of Visakhapatnam. The muscle tissue was analyzed for metals using 7700 Series ICP-MS. The metal concentration obtained was in the order of Al > Fe > Zn > Cr > Sr > Mn > Cu > As > Se > Rb > Ag > Ba > Pb > Ni > V > Li > Cs > Cd > Co > U > Ga > Be > Ti in all samples. Most of the heavy metals were within the prescribed norms of the FAO, WHO, EC, and MHSAC, except for Al (34.66-58.55 mu g/g), Cr (2.62-3.24 mu g/g), Mn (0.86-1.36 mu g/g), As (0.67-1.47 mu g/g), and Pb (0.06-0.37 mu g/g). The study reveals that the fish are not entirely safe for consumption and the pollution levels are on the borderline but can be remedied.