HEAVY METALS IN WATER, SEDIMENT AND TISSUES OF Dryophytes plicatus (ANURA: HYLIDAE (original) (raw)

In this study, concentrations of heavy metals (Ni, Cd, Pb, Cr, and Zn) were determined in water, sediment and tissues (intestine, gills and liver) of the anuran amphibian Dryophytes plicatus (tadpoles) from a lake in Mineral El Chico, Hidalgo, Mexico. The metal concentrations were obtained by spectrochemical analysis. Results showed that in water, the concentration of Cd exceeded the maximum allowable concentration specified in the Mexican Official Standard on water quality. In sediments, the concentrations of Cd exceeded Environmental Protection Agency (USA-EPA) regulations. In tadpole tissues, concentrations of Cd and Zn were higher in the gills and concentrations of Ni, Pb and Cr were higher in the liver. No metal had its highest concentration in water or sediment, while all five metals (Ni, Cd, Pb, Cr and Zn) had their highest concentrations in tadpole tissues, so a biomagnification process is occurring. High concentrations of heavy metals put the survival of this species at risk.