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The issue of heavy metal contamination in urban stormwater has become a major concern for environmental pollution control agencies worldwide due to toxic effects on aquatic organisms and human health. The aim of this study is to determine the levels of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr and Zn) in surface stormwater and tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus) obtained from holding and storage ponds of the Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) Project in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Results have indicated that the concentrations of all heavy metals in stormwater were lower than the recommended water quality criteria established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). On the other hand, the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn detected in fish were below threshold values suggested by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Malaysian Food Regulations (MFR) standards. Only Cr was much higher than FAO limits for fish consumption. Additionally, the content of Cr, Pb and Zn was higher in fish samples collected from holding pond compared to those in storage pond. As the study reflects that Cr in tilapia fish from SMART ponds is of a high concentration, certain harmful effects on human health may result. Accordingly, the research recommends avoiding fishing from ponds, as they accumulate a significant amount of waste consumed by the fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb) in the tissues of fish collected from the lower reach of the Kelantan River, Malaysia. Fishes were collected using gill nets during the dry and wet seasons. A total of 78 individual fish were caught and comprised 6 families, 11 genera and 13 species. The dorsal muscle was analysed using a graphite furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The mean concentration of Cd in Chitala chitala (0.076 mg/kg) was above the critical limit values of the European Commission (EC), World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The mean concentrations of Cd in Barbonymus gonionatus and Tachysurus maculatus were already at the level of concern, whereas the other species were approaching the limits of permissible levels. No fish samples were found to have a Ni level higher than the permissible limit of 0.5-0.6 mg/kg set by the WHO (1985). Osteochilus hasseltii (0.169 mg/kg) and T. maculatus (0.156 mg/kg) showed high Pb concentrations. The concentrations of heavy metals were found to be elevated in the wet season (p<0.05). Omnivorous fish were detected with elevated concentrations of Cd and Ni, whereas carnivorous fish had the highest concentration of Pb. The concentrations of Cd and Pb in fish tissues were positively correlated with fish weight (p<0.05). This study determined that the fish species caught in the Kelantan River were contaminated with non-essential metals (Cd, Ni and Pb). Nevertheless, the heavy metal concentration in the fish tissues, with the exception of C. chitala, O. hasseltii and T. maculatus, did not exceed the EC, FAO, Malaysian Food Act (MFA) or WHO guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]