ABSTRACT
This study focuses on the extent of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) bioaccumulation in edible muscles of Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum), in both male and female sexes at Noor and Babolsar coastal regions from the southern basin of Caspian Sea. These values were compared with the WHO and the UNFAO safety standards regarding the amount of the abovementioned heavy metals in fish tissues (mg/kg ww). Results showed that the accumulation of these elements (except for Zn) was not significantly different between sexes of male and female in Babolsar coastal regions (P > 0.05). In the other hand, accumulation of Hg and As at edible muscles of Caspian kutum has significant difference between two sexes of male and female in Noor coastal regions (P < 0.05), the female had higher concentration than the male. Furthermore, it was not significantly correlated with sex and rivers in length and weight of fish (R 2 < 0.50; P > 0.05). Based on the results, the concentration of heavy metals in the studied fish tissues proved to be significantly lower than international standards (P < 0.05), so its consumption is not a threat to the health of consumers.
