Mercury Contamination in Muscle and Scales of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) of Zabol Chahnimeh Reservoirs (Iran)

3 Abstract: In this study the rate of mercury (Hg) biomagnification in the Zabol Chahnimeh reservoirs of the Sistan, Iran, is investigated by analyzing mercury concentrations in muscle and scales of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). The presented results suggest that the consumption of fish in Zabol Chahnimeh reservoir at the present rate does impose health hazards to the local population and especially for children. There is a significant (p < 0.005) and strong correlation (r= 0.94) between mercury concentration muscle and scale in C. idella and significant (p < 0.04) and correlation (r= 0.45) between mercury concentration muscle and scale in H. molitrix.