Using grouper fish as bio-indicator of Cd, Cu, Pb and V in the vicinity of a single buoy mooring (SBM3) at mina Al fahal in the Sultanate of Oman

This paper investigated metal contamination in muscle tissue of the grouper (Epinephelus coioides) in the vicinity of a single buoy mooring (SBM3) at the Sultanate of Oman. The fish samples were analyzed for cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and vanadium (V). The mean concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and V in the fish samples were 0.05 ± 0.004, 0.34 ± 0.013, 0.20 ± 0.018 and 0.03 ± 0.006 mg/kg, respectively. The results were compared with the corresponding permissible concentration limits according to the Sultanate of Oman (0.05, 3.28, 0.3 and 1.4 mg/kg for Cd, Cu, Pb and V, respectively) and the European Commission (0.05 mg/kg for Cd and 0.3 mg/kg for Pb). It was found that none of the overall mean metal concentrations exceeded the corresponding Omani legislation or European Commission limits. However, the overall mean concentration of Cd was identical to the maximum permissible limit of 0.05 mg/kg that has been established by both Commissions, and the limits were exceeded for mean Cd levels in fish at two of the six sampling stations at SBM3. In general, this study indicated that the fishes at SBM3 were not highly contaminated with these metals.