Some heavy metals such as copper, Nickel ,cadmium, magnesium, zinc and lead were estimated in the gills lever and kidney of fish Etroplus maculatus. collected from Vattakayal Lake, Kollam(dist). The concentration of these heavy metals was high and at higher concentration these might be toxic to the fish and to humans that depends on such fish as food. The concentration of heavy metals were carried out using Flame Atomic Absopition spectrophotometer (AAS). The levels of heavy metals varied in different tissues .Large amount of Zinc and Magnesium were noted in the liver whereas Nickel and magnesium in the gills and lead and copper in the kidney. When compared to FAO, FEPA and WHO standards it was noted that these heavy metals bio accumulated in the different parts of the fish, exceeds the permissible limit.
