FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN, cilt.23, sa.7, ss.1553-1559, 2014 (SCI-Expanded)
Heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Ni, Mn, Cu and Cr) in the muscles, livers and gills of Barbus tauricus escherichi and Capoeta baliki living in Kirmir Stream of Sakarya River have been analyzed by the use of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Some physicochemical parameters of the water samples were also determined. The major organs of the heavy metal accumulation were liver and gills. The maximum accumulation of the zinc was observed in all tissues. The accumulation of the metals in similar and different tissues was observed to be significantly different (t-test, P<0.05). It was concluded that daily and weekly accumulated quantities of the metals in the muscles and other tissues of the fish were within the stipulated levels by the various standards and do not pose any threat for the public health. Moreover, heavy metal accumulation in the tissues of B. t. escherichi and C. baliki were found to be lower than the limit values imposed by the national and international standards. However, the physicochemical parameters and the metal content of the water samples were above the limits of the national and international standards.