THE METAL UPTAKE AND ACCUMULATION IN FISH LIVING IN POLLUTED WATERS

摘要

Fish living in polluted waters tend to accumulate heavy metals in their tissues. Generally, accumulation depends on metal concentration, time of exposure, way of metal uptake, environmental conditions (water temperature, pH, hardness, salinity), and intrinsic factors (fish age, feeding habits). Various metals show different affinity to fish tissues. Most of them accumulate mainly in liver, kidney and gills. Fish muscles, comparing to the other tissues, usually contain the lowest levels of metals. Metal distribution in various organs is time-related. Accumulation of metals in various organs of fish may cause structural lesions and functional disturbances.