Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination, Bioaccumulation, and Nutritional Quality in Fish from the Babina–Cernovca Romanian Sector of the Danube River
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Location
2.2. Sampling
2.3. Laboratory Analysis
2.4. Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) and Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF)
2.5. Statistics
2.6. Ethical Considerations
3. Results
3.1. The Heavy Metals Concetration in Water and Mud in the Samplig Area
3.2. The Proximate Composition and Heavy Metals in the Muscle Tissue of the Fish Species
3.3. Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) and Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) Identified in the Fish Muscle Tissue
3.4. Correlation and Multivariate Analysis of Heavy Metals Bioaccumulation and Proximate Composition in Fish Muscle Tissue
4. Discussion
4.1. The Heavy Metals Concetration in Water and Mud from the Samplig Area
Environment | Metal | Current Data (mg/L) | Literature Values (mg/L) | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Water | ||||
River | Fe | 1.04 × 10−6; 0.021 | 0.330; 0.080; 1244.700; 1.41–0.33 | [42,44,45,49] |
Delta | - | 1.330; 0.428 | [48] | |
River | Zn | 0.126 | 0.025–0.118; 0.032; 0.009, 333.78; 0.094–1.46 | [41,42,44,46,49] |
Delta | - | 0.020; 0.002 | [48] | |
Lakes | - | 0.020–0.120 | - | |
Sediment | ||||
Fe | 0.053–0.226 | 16,104; 15.36; 17,530; 32,720–33,480 | [42,47,49,50] | |
Mn | 0.011–0.118 | 1147–1359 | - | |
Cu | 0.024–0.071 | 35.92; 2; 56; 21–26 | [42,49,51,52] |
4.2. The Proximate Composition and Heavy Metals from the Muscle Tissue
Species | Metal | Current Data (mg/kg) | Literature Values (mg/kg) | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
C. gibelio | Fe | 1.71 | 7.25–8.05 | [59] |
Ni | 0.10 | 1.994–2.246 | [54] | |
Zn | 0.11 | 10.26; 11.72 | [54,59] | |
Cd | 0.20 | 0.017; 0.057–0.061; 0.057; 0.13 | [43,54,57,58] | |
Cr | 0.69 | 1.208; 1.345 | [38,43,60] | |
Cu | 0.31 | 0.715; 1.500 | [38,43,60] | |
Hg | - | 0.025; 0.30; 0.094; 0.139 | [38,43,45,59] | |
As | - | 0.031–0.604; 0.139–0.172 | [38,57] | |
A. brama | Fe | 1.79 | 1.31; 27.64 | [61,62] |
Ni | - | 0.02–1.05 | [44] | |
Zn | 0.10 | 3.15–23.84 | [44,62] | |
Cd | 0.15 | 0.004; 0.027 | [44,60] | |
Cr | 0.61 | 0.20; 0.33 | [44,61] | |
Cu | - | 0.14–1.49 | [44,60] | |
Hg | 0.07 | 0.08; 0.121; 0.237 | [44,57,63] | |
As | 1.99 | 0.035; 1.73 | [57,61] | |
C. carpio | Fe | 1.71 | 7.42–19.62; 1.31; 27.64; 0.008 | [42,60,61,62] |
Ni | 0.09 | 1.685; 0.02–1.05; 6.16; 59.01 | [44,63,64,67] | |
Zn | 0.15 | 3.15; 23.84 | [44,62] | |
Cd | 0.14 | 0.140; 0.005; 0.084 | [42,43,44,63,64,66] | |
Cr | 0.51 | 0.010; 1.143; 0.20; 0.33 | [44,61,63,65] | |
Cu | 0.26 | 0.14;1.49; 0.688; 5.100 | [44,60] | |
Hg | - | 0.207; 0.393–0.466; 0.890 | [42,63,67] | |
As | 2.07 | 0.01; 0.08; 0.66; 0.035; 1.73 | [42,53,57,61,65,66] | |
E. lucius | Fe | 1.71 | 9.97–10.10 | [65] |
Ni | 0.09 | 0.02–0.05 | [44] | |
Zn | 0.13 | 5.10; 23.90 | [63,64] | |
Cd | 0.20 | 0.015–0.044 | [57,63] | |
Cr | 0.55 | 0.781–2.071 | [64] | |
Cu | 0.28 | 0.548; 2.90 | [64,65] | |
Hg | - | 0.021–0.025; 0.30; 0.094; 0.139; 0.236 | [43,45,51,54,63] | |
As | 2.04 | 0.030–0.604; 0.139–0.172; 1.129 | [57,59,63] | |
A. alburnus | Cd | 0.25 | 0.046; 0.13 | [58,61] |
4.3. Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) and Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) Identified in the Fish Muscle Tissue
4.4. Correlation and Multivariate Analysis of Heavy Metals Bioaccumulation and Proximate Composition in Fish Muscle Tissue
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
ANOVA | Analysis of variance |
PCA | Principal Components Analysis |
UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization |
RAMSAR | Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat |
DM | Dry matter |
P | Protein |
F | Fat |
A | Ash |
NFM | Nitrogen-free matter |
BCF | Bioconcentration Factor |
BSAF | Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factor |
PC | Principal Component |
KMO | Keiser–Meyer–Olkin |
ARBDD | Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority |
N | Number of replicates |
X | Average |
sX | Standard error |
RS | Spearman coefficient of correlation |
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No. | Scientific Name | Common Name | Feeding Behavior | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Scardinius erythropthalmus L. | Common rudd | Omnivorous, primarily benthivorous | |
2 | Esox lucius L. | Northern pike | Piscivorous predator | |
3 | Aspius aspius L. | Asp | Piscivorous predator | |
4 | Leuciscus idus L. | Ide | Omnivorous primarily insectivorous | |
5 | Cyprinus carpio L. | Common carp | Omnivorous and primarily benthivorous | |
6 | Abramis brama L. | Common bream | Omnivorous and primarily benthivorous | |
7 | Carassius gibelio Bloch | Crucian carp | Omnivorous and primarily benthivorous | |
8 | Alburnus alburnus L. | Common bleak | Planktivorous and insectivorous |
In Sampling Point P4 | N | Cu | Zn | Fe | Mn |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
X ± sX | X ± sX | X ± sX | X ± sX | ||
P1 water | - | - | - | - | - |
P2 water | - | - | - | - | - |
P3 water | 5 | - | - | 1.04 × 10−6 ± 2.63 × 10−8 | - |
P4 water | 5 | - | 0.126 ± 0.002 | 0.021 ± 0.001 | - |
P5 water | - | - | - | - | - |
P1 mud | 5 | 0.071 ± 0.002 | - | 0.124 ± 0.003 | - |
P2 mud | 5 | 0.054 ± 0.003 | - | 0.106 ± 0.002 | 0.070 ± 0.003 |
P3 mud | 5 | 0.022 ± 0.001 | - | 0.226 ± 0.009 | 0.011 ± 0.35 × 10−3 |
P4 mud | 5 | 0.036 ± 0.002 | - | 0.053 ± 0.001 | 0.072 ± 0.003 |
P5 mud | 5 | 0.024 ± 0.001 | - | 0.059 ± 0.002 | 0.118 ± 0.002 |
Species | Dry Matter | Proximate Nutritional Components | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Protein | Fat | Ash | Nitrogen-Free Matter | ||||||
%FT | %DM | %FT | %DM | %FT | %DM | %FT | %DM | ||
Scardinius erythrophthalmus L. | 30.20 a ± 1.75 | 17.66 a ± 0.36 | 58.48 c ± 0.95 | 2.35 b ± 0.04 | 7.78 b ± 0.011 | 1.17 a ± 0.02 | 3.87 a ± 0.06 | 9.02 a ± 0.40 | 29.87 a ± 1.11 |
Esox lucius L. | 24.52 bc ± 0.95 | 18.94 a ± 0.62 | 77.24 a ± 1.32 | 1.55 bc ± 0.07 | 6.32 b ± 0.12 | 1.35 a ± 0.08 | 5.51 a ± 0.15 | 2.68 c ± 0.09 | 10.93 c ± 0.25 |
Aspius aspius L. | 24.14 bc ± 1.28 | 18.18 a ± 0.89 | 75.31 a ± 1.78 | 2.22 b ± 0.07 | 9.20 b ± 0.11 | 0.99 a ± 0.04 | 4.10 a ± 0.07 | 2.75 c ± 0.13 | 11.39 c ± 0.27 |
Leuciscus idus L. | 24.39 bc ± 0.86 | 16.95 b ± 0.74 | 69.50 b ± 1.52 | 0.78 c ± 0.02 | 3.20 c ± 0.05 | 1.17 a ± 0.05 | 4.80 a ± 0.11 | 5.49 b ± 0.08 | 22.51 b ± 0.18 |
Cyprinus carpio L. | 29.94 a ± 1.60 | 16.71 a ± 0.56 | 55.81 c ± 1.62 | 6.28 a ± 0.12 | 11.36 a ± 0.31 | 1.52 a ± 0.03 | 5.08 a ± 0.12 | 8.31 a ± 0.68 | 27.76 a ± 1.84 |
Abramis brama L. | 26.87 b ± 0.79 | 17.64 a ± 0.41 | 65.65 b ± 0.94 | 1.47 bc ± 0.01 | 5.47 bc ± 0.03 | 1.64 a ± 0.05 | 6.10 a ± 0.14 | 6.12 a ± 0.32 | 22.78 b ± 1.02 |
Carassius gibelio Bloch | 25.73 b ± 1.17 | 20.39 a ± 0.58 | 79.25 a ± 1.26 | 1.05 bc ± 0.06 | 4.08 bc ± 0.13 | 1.15 a ± 0.02 | 4.47 a ± 0.05 | 3.14 c ± 0.06 | 12.20 c ± 0.14 |
Alburnus alburnus L. | 22.47 c ± 0.60 | 17.51 a ± 0.80 | 77.93 a ± 1.4 | 0.42 c ± 0.02 | 1.87 c ± 0.03 | 1.27 a ± 0.07 | 5.65 a ± 0.02 | 3.27 c ± 0.16 | 14.55 c ± 0.28 |
Scardinius erythrophthalmus L. | Esox lucius L. | Aspius aspius L. | Leuciscus idus L. | Cyprinus carpio L. | Abramis brama L. | Carassius gibelio Bloch | Alburnus alburnus L. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ti | 0.29 a ± 0.012 | 0.24 a ± 0.007 | 0.28 a ± 0.006 | 0.27 a ± 0.013 | 0.22 a ± 0.010 | 0.23 a ± 0.006 | 0.19 a ± 0.009 | 0.30 a ± 0.011 |
Fe | 1.80 a ± 0.076 | 1.71 a ± 0.060 | 0.25 b ± 0.015 | 0.18 b ± 0.006 | 1.71 a ± 0.052 | 1.79 a ± 0.040 | 1.98 a ± 0.117 | 2.00 a ± 0.048 |
Zn | 0.20 a ± 0.005 | 0.13 a ± 0.006 | 0.18 a ± 0.005 | 0.16 ab ± 0.008 | 0.15 ab ± 0.011 | 0.10 b ± 0.003 | 0.11 b ± 0.003 | 0.19 a ± 0.008 |
Cr | 0.66 a ± 0.028 | 0.55 ab ± 0.031 | - | 0.70 a ± 0.039 | 0.51 a ± 0.016 | 0.61 a ± 0.024 | 0.69 a ± 0.024 | 0.63 a ± 0.037 |
Cu | 0.27 a ± 0.010 | 0.28 a ± 0.009 | 0.31 a ± 0.017 | - | 0.26 a ± 0.016 | - | 0.31 a ± 0.004 | 0.30 a ± 0.003 |
Sb | 0.02 b ± 0.003 | - | 0.04 b ± 0.005 | 0.04 b ± 0.004 | 0.03 b ± 0.002 | 0.31 a ± 0.007 | - | 0.06 b ± 0.001 |
Mn | 0.02 a ± 0.002 | - | - | - | - | - | 0.03 a ± 0.002 | 0.02 a ± 0.004 |
Cd | 0.14 ab ± 0.006 | 0.20 a ± 0.007 | 0.14 ab ± 0.007 | 0.18 a ± 0.010 | 0.14 ab ± 0.005 | 0.15 ab ± 0.008 | 0.20 a ± 0.014 | 0.25 a ± 0.007 |
Ag | 0.07 a ± 0.004 | 0.09 a ± 0.003 | 0.07 a ± 0.005 | 0.08 a ± 0.005 | 0.05 a ± 0.004 | 0.07 a ± 0.004 | 0.08 a ± 0.004 | 0.10 a ± 0.005 |
Ni | 0.09 a ± 0.001 | 0.09 a ± 0.001 | 0.10 a ± 0.007 | - | 0.09 a ± 0.003 | - | 0.10 a ± 0.004 | 0.11 a ± 0.004 |
Se | 0.99 b ± 0.012 | 2.88 a ± 0.060 | 3.16 a ± 0.094 | 3.03 a ± 0.123 | 2.24 a ± 0.084 | 1.87 a ± 0.127 | 1.92 a ± 0.048 | 1.99 a ± 0.099 |
V | - | - | 0.05 a ± 0.002 | - | - | - | 0.05 a ± 0.002 | - |
Sn | - | 0.04 a ± 0.004 | - | - | 0.03 a ± 0.002 | 0.04 a ± 0.001 | 0.04 a ± 0.002 | 0.05 a ± 0.002 |
Hg | - | - | - | - | - | 0.07 a ± 0.004 | - | - |
As | - | 2.04 a ± 0.045 | - | 2.05 a ± 0.062 | 2.07 a ± 0.076 | 1.99 a ± 0.097 | - | - |
Species | BACFe | BACZn | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | log10 | P5 | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | log10 | P5 | |
a | - | - | - | 1.59 | 0.2014 | - | - | - | - | 8.57 | 0.9330 | - |
b | - | - | - | 1.03 | 0.0128 | - | - | - | - | 8.14 | 0.9106 | - |
c | - | - | - | 1.43 | 0.1553 | - | - | - | - | 1.19 | 0.0755 | - |
d | - | - | - | 1.27 | 0.1038 | - | - | - | - | 0.86 | 0.0655 | - |
e | - | - | - | 1.19 | 0.0755 | - | - | - | - | 8.14 | 0.9106 | - |
f | - | - | - | 0.79 | 0.1024 | - | - | - | - | 8.52 | 0.9304 | - |
g | - | - | - | 0.87 | 0.0605 | - | - | - | - | 9.43 | 0.9745 | - |
h | - | - | - | 1.51 | 0.1790 | - | - | - | - | 9.52 | 0.9786 | - |
Species | BSAF | log10 BSAF | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | X ± SE | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | X ± SE | |
a | 3.80 | 5.00 | 12.27 | 7.50 | 11.25 | 7.96 ± 1.93 | 0.5798 | 0.6990 | 1.0888 | 0.8751 | 1.0512 | 0.8588 ± 0.4690 |
b | 3.94 | 5.19 | 12.73 | 7.78 | 11.67 | 8.26 ± 1.96 | 0.5955 | 0.7152 | 1.1048 | 0.8910 | 1.0671 | 0.8747 ± 0.4691 |
c | 4.37 | 5.74 | 14.09 | 8.61 | 12.92 | 9.14 ± 2.07 | 0.6405 | 0.7589 | 1.1489 | 0.9350 | 1.1113 | 0.9189 ± 0.4688 |
d | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
e | 3.66 | 4.81 | 11.82 | 7.22 | 10.83 | 7.66 ± 1.89 | 0.5635 | 0.6821 | 1.0726 | 0.8585 | 1.0346 | 0.8423 ± 0.4688 |
f | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
g | 4.37 | 5.74 | 14.09 | 8.61 | 12.92 | 9.14 ± 2.07 | 0.6405 | 0.7589 | 1.1489 | 0.9350 | 1.1113 | 0.9189 ± 0.4688 |
h | 4.23 | 5.56 | 13.64 | 8.33 | 12.50 | 8.85 ± 2.03 | 0.6263 | 0.7451 | 1.1348 | 0.9206 | 1.0969 | 0.9048 ± 0.4687 |
Species | BSAF | log10 BSAF | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | X ± SE | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | X ± SE | |
a | 14.52 | 16.98 | 7.96 | 33.96 | 30.51 | 20.78 ± 3.32 | 1.1620 | 1.2299 | 0.9009 | 1.5310 | 1.4844 | 1.2616 ± 0.5065 |
b | 13.79 | 16.13 | 7.57 | 32.26 | 28.98 | 19.74 ± 3.23 | 1.1396 | 1.2076 | 0.8791 | 1.5087 | 1.4621 | 1.2394 ± 0.5063 |
c | 2.02 | 2.36 | 1.11 | 4.72 | 4.24 | 2.89 ± 1.23 | 0.3054 | 0.3729 | 0.0453 | 0.6739 | 0.6274 | 0.4050 ± 0.5059 |
d | 1.45 | 1.70 | 0.80 | 3.40 | 3.05 | 2.08 ± 1.05 | 0.1614 | 0.2304 | −0.0969 | 0.5315 | 0.4843 | 0.2621 ± 0.5059 |
e | 13.79 | 16.13 | 7.57 | 32.26 | 28.98 | 19.74 ± 3.23 | 1.1396 | 1.2076 | 0.8791 | 1.5087 | 1.4621 | 1.2394 ± 0.5063 |
f | 14.44 | 16.89 | 7.92 | 33.77 | 30.34 | 20.67 ± 3.31 | 1.1596 | 1.2276 | 0.8987 | 1.5285 | 1.4820 | 1.2593 ± 0.5064 |
g | 15.97 | 18.68 | 8.76 | 37.36 | 33.56 | 22.86 ± 3.48 | 1.2033 | 1.2714 | 0.9425 | 1.5724 | 1.5258 | 1.3031 ± 0.5064 |
h | 16.13 | 18.87 | 8.85 | 37.74 | 33.90 | 23.09 ± 3.50 | 1.2076 | 1.2758 | 0.9469 | 1.5768 | 1.5302 | 1.3075 ± 0.5064 |
Species | BSAF | log10 BSAF | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | X ± SE | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | X ± SE | |
a | - | 0.29 | 1.82 | 0.28 | 0.17 | 0.64 ± 0.88 | - | 0.538 | 0.260 | 0.553 | 0.770 | 0.5303 ± 0.4572 |
b | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
c | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
d | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
e | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
f | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
g | - | 0.43 | 2.73 | 0.42 | 0.25 | 0.95 ± 1.08 | - | 0.367 | 0.436 | 0.377 | 0.602 | 0.4455 ± 0.3297 |
h | - | 0.29 | 1.82 | 0.28 | 0.17 | 0.64 ± 0.88 | - | 0.538 | 0.260 | 0.553 | 0.770 | 0.5303 ± 0.4572 |
Species | PC | Eigenvalue | %Total | Species | PC | Eigenvalue | %Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
a—S. erythrophthalmus | PC1 | 6.429895 | 40.18685 | b—E. lucius | PC1 | 6.676482 | 41.72801 |
PC2 | 4.906004 | 30.66252 | PC2 | 5.884697 | 36.77936 | ||
Total | 11.3359 | 70.84937 | Total | 12.56118 | 78.50737 | ||
c—A. aspius | PC1 | 6.602411 | 44.01607 | d—L. idus | PC1 | 6.389428 | 45.63877 |
PC2 | 4.642895 | 30.95264 | PC2 | 4.093006 | 29.23575 | ||
Total | 11.24531 | 74.96871 | Total | 10.48243 | 74.87452 | ||
e—C. carpio | PC1 | 6.946362 | 40.86095 | f—A. brama | PC1 | 6.123379 | 38.27112 |
PC2 | 5.845441 | 34.38495 | PC2 | 5.561175 | 34.75734 | ||
Total | 12.7918 | 75.2459 | Total | 11.68455 | 73.02846 | ||
g—C. gibelio | PC1 | 6.897949 | 40.57617 | h—A. alburnus | PC1 | 6.370362 | 37.47272 |
PC2 | 5.440019 | 32.00011 | PC2 | 5.652739 | 33.25140 | ||
Total | 12.33797 | 72.57628 | Total | 12.0231 | 70.72412 |
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Oroian, I.; Bulete, B.I.; Matei, E.; Odagiu, A.C.M.; Burduhos, P.; Oroian, C.; Ștefan, O.D.; Bordea, D. Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination, Bioaccumulation, and Nutritional Quality in Fish from the Babina–Cernovca Romanian Sector of the Danube River. Foods 2025, 14, 3419. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14193419
Oroian I, Bulete BI, Matei E, Odagiu ACM, Burduhos P, Oroian C, Ștefan OD, Bordea D. Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination, Bioaccumulation, and Nutritional Quality in Fish from the Babina–Cernovca Romanian Sector of the Danube River. Foods. 2025; 14(19):3419. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14193419
Chicago/Turabian StyleOroian, Ioan, Bogdan Ioachim Bulete, Ecaterina Matei, Antonia Cristina Maria Odagiu, Petru Burduhos, Camelia Oroian, Ovidiu Daniel Ștefan, and Daniela Bordea. 2025. "Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination, Bioaccumulation, and Nutritional Quality in Fish from the Babina–Cernovca Romanian Sector of the Danube River" Foods 14, no. 19: 3419. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14193419
APA StyleOroian, I., Bulete, B. I., Matei, E., Odagiu, A. C. M., Burduhos, P., Oroian, C., Ștefan, O. D., & Bordea, D. (2025). Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination, Bioaccumulation, and Nutritional Quality in Fish from the Babina–Cernovca Romanian Sector of the Danube River. Foods, 14(19), 3419. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14193419