Study of Heavy Metals Pollution and Vitellogenin Levels in Brown Trout (Salmo trutta trutta) Wild Fish Populations

The objectives of this research were, first, to determine the concentrations certain heavy metals in edible tissue wild brown trout (Salmo trutta trutta) from two different rivers located Abruzzi region (Italy), and then, investigate levels variation vitellogenin (VTG) associated with presence metalloestrogens. VTG is an effective indicator for endocrine disturbance, increase male fish widely employed as a biomarker estrogenic contamination aquatic environment. muscles were analyzed As, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb, Al, Zn using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), Hg was measured direct mercury analyzer (DMA-80). calculated values condition factor confirmed healthy status species, indicating that habit both suitable life. No significant difference each metal reported between rivers, no found female fish. It interesting note high Al/Zn, while all samples lower than those established by European Commission.