Environmental contamination by Zinc and the risk of its introduction into the food chain

Zn accumulation may be utilized as a reliable biomarker for determining the degree of environmental pollution in water, sediment, and river fish tissues. In this study data obtained from ICP-MS evaluation revealed that the levels of Zn in the sediment from 9 hotspots (HS) were: 214.5, 138.8, 164.8, 269.6, 156.6, 356.6, 120.8, 387.5, and 259.7 mg/kg dry mass of sediment, respectively. Zn concentrations in S. cephalus fish liver at 9 hotspots were as follows: 11.623, 9.982, 13.514, 31.451, 27.513, 39.791, 10.034, 46.502, and 14.903 mg/kg wet weight. Only in the HS-8 the Zn concentration in the liver exceed the FAO limits. Zn concentrations in muscle varied from HS-1 to HS-9: 3.013; 7,021; 3,304; 6,513; 5,504; 2,802; 5,213; 6.342; and 8.704 mg/ kg wet weight. The Zn concentrations in muscle did not surpass FAO guidelines and do not constitute a concern to public health. There is a statistical relationship between Zn concentration in sediment and the liver. The Zn level found in the sediment at each of the nine sampling locations, reveals heavy pollution caused by industry or other activities conducted in these locations and needs more seriousattention from authorities.