Fish samples from various outlets in Hyderabad and Secunderabad were found to have large concentrations of heavy metals like arsenic, nickel, cadmium and lead in fish samples, according to a study published by scientists from the National Institution of Nutrition. 

The study led by Dr J Sreenivasa Rao of the Food Chemistry division of NIN checked the commonly consumed fish in the city, for the study and found that concentration of heavy metals are dependent on the fish species.

Black pomfret (nalla chanduva) was found to have the highest level of arsenic and cadmium. The amount of arsenic found was 689.5micrograms per kg(µg/kg) and cadmium was 61.87µg/kg. While silver pomfret has as much as 680.1µg/kg of nickel concentration. 

It was reported that 108.2µg/kg lead was found in soleole (korramenu) while tiger prawn had high concentration of arsenic at 405.8µg/kg.

Pollution of water bodies has not only affected the environment but has been passed on to the food that people consume across the country. 

 “Fish sold in Hyderabad are not only from Telangana but also from Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. If heavy metals are found in fish being sold in Hyderabad, there is a need to also know the concentrations of heavy metals in the water where the fish originate from and the sources of the heavy metals in the water for which various organizations need to work together,” Dr. Shilpi Sharma, scientist at the Telangana State Biodiversity Board told Deccan Chronicle.