ABSTRACT

Concentrations of some heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and Cr) in liver of pike (Esox lucius L., 1758) and its endoparasite [Raphidascaris acus (Bloch, 1779)] inhabiting Işıklı Lake (Turkey) were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Only Fe and Zn were detected in R. acus and liver of fish, while levels of Cu, Mn and Cr were below detection limit (<0.028). The Fe and Zn level in R. acus were 68.4 and 86.9 times higher than in the liver. Nematodes could provide reliable information about the heavy metal pollution of the lakes.