Study on the accumulation and transformation of lead in liver and muscle of climbing perch (Anabas testudineus)

Lead (Pb) accumulation in food is being seriously concerned due to its harmful effects on the health in of consumers. In this study, the accumulation and speciation of Pb analysis were carried out on climbing perch (Anabas testudineus). The A. testudineus was raised in waterborne Pb at concentration of 20, 30, 40 mg/L for Pb in 7 and 28 days. Pb is present in different chemical forms in the food chain, but organic Pb is more toxic than inorganic Pb.  In the present study, organic Pb in liver and muscle of A. testudineus was extracted with methanol and was measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. After 28 days of exposure, total Pb concentration in A. testudineus was from 124.23 ± 5.09 to 174.45 ± 5.55 mg/kg dry weight for the liver and from 67.83 ± 5.79 to 153.60 ± 5.78 mg/kg dry weight for the muscle. Organic Pb found in A. testudineus was from 8.1 to 9.9 % for the liver and from 5.9 to 12.5 % for the muscle. The accumulation of Pb in A. testudineus was quite high however, the conversion from inorganic Pb to organic Pb in A. testudineus was relatively low.