PT12 Metals and Bioaccumulation
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Tuesday
(PT152) Metals in sport fish tissues of Jobos bay a National Estuarine Research Reserve in Puerto Rico.
SALGADO, CARLA , MANSILLA, IMAR, RODRIGUEZ, CARLOS ,
ABSTRACT- Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR) is a reserve located in southern Puerto Rico that is being impacted by the significant industrial, agricultural, and residential development of the area. Heavy metals are among aquatic pollutants more frequently detected in estuarine systems. Metals attaining high concentrations in fish tissues could result in deleterious effects on reproduction, behavior, growth, and survival. Tissue metal concentrations in fish are good indicators of exposure to metal-contaminated aquatic systems, allowing differentiating between contaminated and uncontaminated sites. This study focus on the distribution of metals in livers, gonads and gills of two sport fish species (Scomberomorus spp. and Lutjanus spp.) commonly captured and consumed by recreational fishermen of JBNERR area and La Parguera, a reference site. A total of 31 fish were collected from six different stations at JBNEER, whereas 18 fish were collected from La Parguera with the assistance of local fishermen. Fish tissues are being acid digested in a microwave oven with concentrated nitric acid and metals (arsenic, lead, copper, selenium, cadmium, and zinc) analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Arsenic values in livers of Scomberomorus cavalla ranged from 1.24 
g/g to 2.47 g/g, wet weight. Selenium values in livers o the same species were ranged from 1.1337 g/g to 3.6191 g/g, wet weight. Lead values in livers of the same species were below the detection limit. In the case of gonads of Scomberomorus cavalla, the arsenic values ranged from 0.5716 g/g to 2.2384 g/g, wet weight. The selenium values ranged from 0.9077 g/g to 2.0308 g/g, wet weight. Lead values were below the detection limit. Metal analysis will be conducted in all three tissues for both species.
Key words: BIOACCUMULATION, HEAVY METALS