Metal concentrations in fish tissues from Kara, Bolshoi Patok, and Maly Patok River basins, Northeastern European Russia

Abstract Fish and fish tissue are effective bioindicators due to their sensitivity to pollution and are frequently used for assessing aquatic ecosystem health. Establishing baseline metal concentrations in freshwater fish tissues within aquatic ecosystems is important prior to establishing industrial activities to help determine potential future industrial impacts. Historically, North-Eastern European Russia has been an area with relatively low levels of industrial development and is still in pristine condition. In this region, the noise-to-background ratio for industrial contaminants may be disproportionately high. This study measured baseline metal concentrations in freshwater fish tissues collected from three study sites (the Bolshoi Patok, Maly Patok and Kara Rivers) in northeastern European Russia as bioindicators of overall aquatic ecosystem health. Seven fish species, namely, European Grayling, Arctic Char, Whitefish, Perch, Pike, Roach, and Peled, were studied over a three-year period between 2000 and 2003. The copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn) concentrations were analysed in fish tissue samples. Metal concentrations measured in fish tissues in this study were comparable to those measured at remote sites in Alaska, the United States and Slovenia. Despite the small variation between the sampling sites, the metal concentrations were relatively low and considered to be in pristine condition. Metal concentrations measured in fish tissues in this study represent baseline conditions, which will be important for comparison against monitoring programmes should the region experience future industrial development.