FISH AS AN INDICATOR OF AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT; MULTIELEMENTAL NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS OF FISH FROM INDIAN COASTAL AREAS

摘要

Elemental characterization of fish from coastal areas have been often used as an indicator of environmental pollution in surrounding areas (1,2). Open sea is the most exposed area of contamination by heavy toxic metals from industrial waste discharge and by anthropogenic activities along coastal areas. As a result many pollutant elements are likely to be taken up by fish in coastal water (3). Since fish is a major food of the coastal population, analysis of nutrients and pollutants is essential (4,5). Analysis of toxic metals in fish and fishery products is also essential for monitoring potential risk to humans because of its direct consumption by a large population.