ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Bioaccumulation of Trace Metals
in Wastewater-Fed Aquaculture:
A Case Study in Turkey
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Bursa Uludag University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering,
Görükle Campus, Bursa, Turkey
Submission date: 2018-05-17
Final revision date: 2018-09-14
Acceptance date: 2018-09-24
Online publication date: 2019-07-23
Publication date: 2019-09-17
Corresponding author
Aslıhan Katip
Uludag University, Uludag University, Faculty of Engineering, Environmental Engineering Department, 16059 Bursa, Turkey
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(6):4221-4238
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ABSTRACT
This study investigated the suitability of wastewater from secondary treatment used in breeding
fishes of Carassius gibelio species, and using this fish for human food. For this purpose, metals (Fe,
Mn, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cd, As and B) in treated effluent and muscle, gill and liver tissues of fish were
examined seasonally. It was found that treated effluent was suitable for irrigation and partially available
for aquaculture, and the concentrations in fish tissues were over standard values. The values in liver and
gill were higher than muscles. The TF (transfer factor) values of all metals examined were observed as
>1 in the three tissues and the metals caused bioaccumulation. Concentrations in muscles were found to
be 10 to 1000 times higher than in water. Size order of TF and BCF (bio-concentration factor) values in
eatable muscle tissue were the same and it was Zn>Fe>Pb>Cu>Ni>Cd>As>Cr>Mn>B. Concentration
differences among the tissues for As, Cd, Pb, Ni and B were not significant (P>0.05). Because the
correlations between Cd, Mn, Pb and Cu concentrations in tissues and treated effluent were found to
be statistically significant, the metals caused bioaccumulation because of treated effluent. HQ (hazard
quotient) and BCF values of Pb in muscle had carcinogenic risk levels.