Abstract: Periyar, one of the major rivers of Kerala state passes through the
highly polluted industrial area, Eloor and Chitrapuzha region. Heavy metal
pollution is one of the major problems of the water pollution in this region.
Heavy metals are vigorous oxidizing agents and thus are highly bound to
biochemical inability of tissues and thus affect fishes. The main objective of
the study was to check whether the heavy metals have targeted the most vitally
protected tissue – the brain and to analyse the increasing tendency of
heavy metal accumulation with age in fishes. The study area includes the highly
polluted Eloor and Chitraphuzha area, nearly 11 kms away from Kochi. The Fish, Gobius malabaricus, belonging to the family Gobidae were collected, weighed and
grouped. Fishes were dissected for brain tissue, weighed, homogenized and heavy
metals were detected using ICPAES (Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission
spectrophotometer). The study showed heavy metal accumulation in the order
Copper ⩾ Manganese ⩾ Zinc (0.55 ppm). Cadmium and
Chromium were found below detection limit. The greatest accumulation of heavy
metals was found in the brain of older fishes. Accumulation of heavy metals
even in the brain of fishes, thus, indicates the extent of heavy metal
pollution in the industrial area.
