Assessment of the bioaccumulation of selected metals in Channa punctatus and Rita rita and exposure evaluation in humans

The present study deals with the physico-chemical characterization of river water and evaluation of metal accumulation in vital tissues of fish Channa punctatusand Rita rita. Accumulation of hazardous metals (e.g. Cr, Cd and Pb) in tissues was higher than the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) regulations. Application of the metal pollution index (MPI) revealed that highest metal accumulation was in gills followed by liver, and least in muscle tissues in C. punctatus; whereas metal accumulation was highest in muscle tissue in R. rita. Ingestion dose for Cr, Fe, Co, Cd and Pb in samples from both species was found higher than permissible level prescribed by US Environment Protection Agency (USEPA). However, ingestive dose for Mn, Ni and Zn were found under the permissible guidelines.