Hello Azubuike, Metals are non-biodegradable and are considered as major environmental pollutants. The literature has reported that scales of fish can accumulate high concentrations of metals such as Zinc, lead, strontium (Abdulach et al., 1976). Fish scale has a potential biosorption activity for heavy metal. I am pleased to send you this link about heavy metal toxicity by mucus and scales in fish.

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00212289#

Please receive other information about your search.

Is there any study showing the relationship between the amount of metals in the scales of a fish and metal concentrations in the fishes body?

Hello Azubuike, I am pleased to send you a paper about your search I hope that can be hepful.

Please receive this link about your search.

http://www.ceacsu.edu.pk/PDF%20file/Volume%2012%20No%201%20and%202/25-31.pdf

Thanks alot Yanick for your contribution. Although the latter paper implied that tilapia (scaled-Fish) accumulated more metals than clarias (non-scale fish) it did not mention whether the difference was statistically significant.

Second there was no direct correlation between metal concentration in scales and metal concentration in fish organs.

All the same i appreciate your efforts. Thanks again!

You're welcome Azubuike. I appreciate your reply. you prove me that you have read the papers.