Residue of cadmium and mercury in liver and muscle of a freshwater catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

Toxic metals viz., cadmium and mercury in liver and muscle tissues of a freshwater catfish, H. fossilis were measured by graphic mode and atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Fish were exposed to fractions of 96h LC 50 value. Acute (1/5^th of 96h LC₅₀), subacute (1/10^th of 96h LC₅₀) and sublethal (1/15^th of 96h LC 50) concentrations for acute (96h), short (10–20 days) and long (30–60 days) terms. The accumulation of both the metals in liver and muscle was significant in respect of dose and duration. The cadmium residue was found to be higher in liver than muscle but mercury was more in muscle than liver. It was also observed that, the relationship between the body concentration of each heavy metal and its respective 96h LC₅₀ value was close and sequenced.