Abstract

LEMUS, Mairin; CASTANEDA, Julián  and  CHUNG, Kyung. Heavy metals in fish and invertebrates from the Gulf of Paria, Venezuela. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2014, vol.30, n.2, pp.137-142. ISSN 0188-4999.

The concentration of Hg, Cu, Cd, Cr and Ni was estimated in fish and invertebrates captured in the Gulf of Paria coastal zone, Venezuela. The results show that invertebrates have a higher bioaccumulation of metals in relation to fish, particularly C. virginica that had the highest concentrations of Hg, Cu and Cd and the snail A. deflorata with the highest values of Cr, Ni and Pb. In relation to fishes, C. spixii (catfish) presented the highest values of all metals tested. The metals tested in the species do not exceed the maximum permissible values indicated by the WHO for human consumption. However, heavy metals are present in the Gulf of Paria.

Keywords : heavy metals; bioaccumulation; invertebrates; contamination; fish.

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