Preliminary Study of Potential Health Hazard Using Cyprinus Carpio as a Biological Indicator During Construction of Suki Kinari Hydropower Project in Mansehra District, Pakistan

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is regarded highly beneficial aquatic organism by many Asian as well as some European countries. Due to its remarkable adaptability to diet and habitat, Cyprinus carpio is of exceptional economic importance in freshwater aquaculture in Pakistan. This study aims to evaluate water quality indicators, quantify HMs concentrations in the liver and muscles of Cyprinus carpio. The determination of Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, and Zn water pollution indices (WPI) and bioaccumulation factors (BAF) were monitored. The results revealed that the water at all sites seemed to have concentration levels of Fe, Pb, and Mn which exceeded the standards set by the World Health Organization in 2011, whereas the concentration levels of Cu and Zn were below the standards. Fe and Cu levels in fish flesh were lower than the FAO, 1992 recommendation, while Mn, Zn, and Pb concentrations were too substantial. To better understand the level toward which metals in the ecosystem cause a risk to aquatic life, the development of frameworks to forecast weather conditions and the impact of habitats on both the quantity and quality of water would benefit from our findings.