ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN COASTAL WATER AND FISH SAMPLES FROM KALAPET AREA, PONDICHERRY

Now days the potential toxic effect of heavy metals in the aquatic organisms has been intensively studied. The present study was aimed to determine the  proximate composition and the heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Pb & Cr) of three different marine fish species Grey mullet (Mugil cephalus), Red snapper (Lutjanus sanguineus), and Indian sardine (Sardinella longiceps) along with the water  sample collected from the  southeast coast region located in Pondicherry state.  These results revealed that the proximate composition of L. sanguineus had higher protein content (19.98%) and S. longiceps had higher fat content (10.03%), Fresh M. cephalus had higher moisture content (84.04%) whereas L. sanguineus had the highest ash content (2.59%) respectively. The metal concentration in seawater was found in the following order: Cr 0.91±0.04 > Cd 80±0.03 > Pb 0.08±0.01. The biomonitoring of the heavy metal concentration in the fish falls in the following order: Chromium 1.62±0.57 (Mugil cephalus) > 1.12±0.32 (Sardinella longiceps) > 0.90±0.04 (Lutjanus sanguineus). Lead 0.17±0.04 (Sardinella longiceps) > 0.33±0.07 (Lutjanus sanguineus) > 0.33±0.07 (Mugi cephalus). Cadmium 1.87±0.25 (Mugi cephalus) > 0.43±0.28 (Sardinella longiceps)> 0.14±0.09 (Lutjanus sanguineus). This investigation indicates that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the concentration of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd) in different fish species and sea water. The results of sea water analysis shows that the heavy metals concentration was present within the permissible level recommended by WHO and FAO.