Paper Title
Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Fishes of Dal Lake, Kashmir-India

Abstract
The levels of heavy metals like Pb, Cu, Hg and Zn contamination in Dal lake water are potentially toxic and are transferred to fishes of the lake. The concentration of Lead was beyond permissible limits in fishes as well as in water and the concentration of Zn, Cu and Hg were found within the admissible limits when compared with IS 10500: 2012. The concentration of Zinc 0.08 mg/l, Copper 0.04 mg/l, Lead 0.33 mg/l and Mercury 0.2 µg/l were found in water while as Zinc 22.85 ppm in Common Carp and 32.9 ppm in Schizo carp, Copper 13.45 ppm in Common carp and 14.75 ppm in Schizo Carp, Lead 236.5 ppm in Schizo Carp and 220 ppm in Common Carp, Mercury 109 ppb in Common Carp and 37 ppb in Schizo Carp. Water has become contaminated by the accumulation of heavy metals through runoff from the rapidly expanding human populations around the lake including disposal of municipal wastes, leaded paints, fertilizer usage, animal manure, sewage sludge from sewage treatment plants, pesticides, irrigation waste water and the electronic waste. The presence of heavy metal may prove fatal to the fishes present in the lake and there is potential health risks associated with it. The toxic effects of these metals, even though they do not show any significant role presently remain present in some or other form, may be harmful for the proper functioning of Lake Ecosystem as well as to the humans who consume these fishes. Keywords - Bioaccumulation; Carp; Heavy Metal; Contamination; Pollution; Runoff; Hazard