Preliminary study on heavy metal concentrations of Anatolian Khramulya, Capoeta tinca (Heckel, 1843) from Çamlıgöze Dam Lake, Sivas, Turkey.

The concentrations of heavy metals (Ag, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) were analyzed in muscle, skin and liver of Anatolian Khramulya, Capoeta tinca (Heckel, 1843) from Çamlıgöze Dam Lake located at Central Anatolian region of Turkey. The heavy metal analysis of samples was carried out by using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Ag, Cd, Co, Pb and Zn were found in all of the examined tissues. Cu and Ni were not determined in all tissues studied. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in all of the examined tissues of Capoeta tinca were as follows: Ag: 0.057 ± 0.038-0.120 ± 0.051, Cd: 0.020 ± 0.004-1.451 ± 0.879, Co: 0.127 ± 0.067-0.205 ± 0.086, Pb: 1.939 ± 0.477-2.604 ± 0.393 and Zn: 0.056 ± 0.014-0.530 ± 0.129 μg/g in Çamlıgöze Dam Lake. According to international criterias and Turkish regulation, heavy metal concentrations especially Cd and Pb in Çamlıgöze Dam Lake were found above the permissible levels for examined tissues of Capoeta tinca. Furthermore, frequent consumption of contaminated fish is able to offer a serious public health risk. Therefore, the concentrations of metals accumulated in the fish, which are commonly consumed by public, should be monitored periodically in Çamlıgöze Dam Lake.