Eleven trace metals (Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, ph, Zn tend Hg) and four macronutrients (Na K, Ca and Mg) were estimated in 143 fish samples pertaining to 6 commercial marine fish species (Pampus argenteus, Dussumieria acuta, Gazza minuta, Lepturocanthus savala, Parastromateus niger, Pseudorhombus arsius) harvested during September-March 1993, from locations along the south-west coast of the Arabian Sea, Pakistan using the atomic absorption method. To assess the enhancement of pollution over the past six years the present trace metal data is compared with the counterpart for a common fish (Pampus argenteus) harvested from the same location during September-March, 1987. Arsenic, iron, nickel, zinc and mercury showed dominant concentrations, with the values of 7.317, 5.908, 1.891, 10.201 and 0.746 mu g/g. The data reflected species specificity towards metal uptake and showed no direct relationship for macronutrient levels. The average metal concentrations found in various fish species were higher for industrial metals, such as As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Zn and Hg. The overall pattern of increasing metal concentrations are: Hg < Pb < Cd < Zn < Ni < Cu < Fe < As < Mn < Cr. The study based on Pampus argenteus, selected as a common species, revealed that Cr and Mn concentrations have increased to about 4-fold, and As by about 2.5 fold during the past 6 years, indicated a gross metal pollution of the coastal waters of the sea.
JALEEL TARIQ ,M ASHRAF ,M JAFFAR ,