Bioaccumulation Study of some Heavy Metals in Tissues and Organs of Three Collected Fish Species in Tigris River within Mosul City

The present study includes the determination of concentrations of some heavy metals (Lead Pb and Cadmium Cd) in muscles, liver and gills of the three economic fish species: Cyprinus carpia, Condrostoma regiumand Liza abu. These fishes were collected from three sites along sides of Tigris river in Mosul city, during spring 2011 to winter 2012.
The three sites along Tigris river were the entry of Mosul city (Mushirfa site) which is considered as control, Middle city (near the Iron old bridge) and the ending city (Albosaif site).
The aim of the study is to assess the accumulative levels of these metals in fish and their transporting in food chains till arrived to human body.
The results showed that the concentration rank of the metals in fishes followed the describing sequence: Albosaif site > middle city > Mushirfa site. Lead bioaccumulation in fishes tissues and organs followed the descending sequence: liver > gills > muscles.
The results also showed that cadmium bioaccumulation in fish tissues and organs followed the descending sequence: gills> liver > muscles. These highest values were refereed to variety in pollution sources with heavy metals in the river and made the fishes as a good pollution bioindicater.