Level of Zinc and Lead in Freshwater Fishes in Balok River, Pahang, Malaysia

This study was to determine the level of Zinc (Zn) and Lead (Pb) in the muscle and gills of fishes in Balok River, Pahang, Malaysia. Four different species of fishes: Megalops cyprinoides, Johnius trachycephalus, Lates calcarifer and Hexanematichthys sagor were digested using acid digestion method and analysed by Inductive Coupled Plasma Micro Spectrometer (ICP-MS). Pb levels in muscle among all fish species occurred in the rank order:  H. sagor > L. calcarifer>M. cyprinoides> J. trachycephalus meanwhile Pb level in gills: Johnius trachycephalus> L. calcarifer> H. sagor > M. cyprinoides. Pb concentration in muscle of fish was the highest in H. sagor (0.037±0.037mg/kg) and in gill of J. trachycephalus with value of 0.213±0.273mg/kg respectively. Meanwhile Zn level among all fishes were in order of: H.sagor> J.trachycephalus> L.calcarifer> M.cyprinoides. The mean concentration of Zn in muscle and gill of H.sagor was the highest (2.400±1.677 and 31.572±4.562mg/kg) compared to other species respectively. However, the concentration of Pb and Zn in all fish samples were below permissible limit according to Malaysia Food Act (MFA, 1983), US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA, 1993), European Commission (EC, 2001), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2012) and were estimated safe for human consumption.