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@article{143649,
        author = { Elizah KAMANE and Savitha De Britto},
        title = {Heavy Metal Concentration in Tissues of Selected Common Fish Species from the Upper Ramu River in Northern Papua New Guinea},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {},
        volume = {2},
        number = {12},
        pages = {415-424},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=143649},
        abstract = {The Ramu River, one of the largest rivers in Papua New Guinea is under threat of contamination due to diversified industries situated within its catchment and drainage areas. In this study, three common fish species namely Neoariusleptaspis, Prochilodusargentus and Bardodesgonionotuscaught upstream and downstream of the Ramu Nickel Mine in the Upper Ramu River basin. They have been evaluated for heavy metal content in their tissues to determine the local ecological quality. Fishes were collected by setting gill nets of various sizes overnight at one impact site and one control site. Liver and muscle tissues of fish were analysed by using Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) for all metals except Mercury (Hg) by Flow Injection Mercury Systems (FIMS) at the Australian Laboratory Services’ Environmental Laboratory in Brisbane. Results indicated that concentration of all metals in muscle tissues of fish from both sites were below the FSANZ and WHO/FAO recommended standards. Five metals (Cd, Hg, Cr, Cu, and Zn) have recorded elevated levels in their liver tissues but were observed to be physiologically regulated and do not show in the muscles.
Almost all the heavy metals have sources further upstream of the current study site implicating that heavy metal input into the Ramu River from Ramu Nickel Mine is minimal. The ecological quality of the aquatic environment under study maintained its natural feature while its fish resources pose no immediate environmental health danger to people depending on it. Further studies and continuous monitoring is required to determine the impact of mining activities on the current site of study because of the ongoing mining activities nearer to the area.},
        keywords = {Heavy Metals, Ecological Quality, Pollution, Environmental Health},
        month = {},
        }