Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Rastrelliger kanagurta along the coastal waters of Visakhapatnam, India

Abstract Twenty-three metals were evaluated in Indian Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) collected at nine fishing settlements along the coastal waters of Visakhapatnam. The muscle tissue was analyzed for metals using 7700 Series ICP-MS. The metal concentration obtained was in the order of Al > Fe > Zn > Cr > Sr > Mn > Cu > As > Se > Rb > Ag > Ba > Pb > Ni > V > Li > Cs > Cd > Co > U > Ga > Be > Ti in all samples. Most of the heavy metals were within the prescribed norms of the FAO, WHO, EC, and MHSAC, except for Al (34.66–58.55 μg/g), Cr (2.62–3.24 μg/g), Mn (0.86–1.36 μg/g), As (0.67–1.47 μg/g), and Pb (0.06–0.37 μg/g). The study reveals that the fish are not entirely safe for consumption and the pollution levels are on the borderline but can be remedied.