My project focused on detecting heavy metal pollution in rivers using fish scales as an environmentally friendly sampling material. I collected chub scales from sites along the Jihlava and Oslava Rivers, both upstream and downstream of wastewater and mine water treatment plants. The scales were cleaned, digested, and analyzed using ICP-MS. I measured concentrations of lead, copper, and cadmium, and assessed how they vary with fish size and sampling location. The findings suggest that treatment plants may contribute to pollution. Fish scales proved to be a sensitive and non-lethal tool for monitoring heavy metal contamination in aquatic ecosystems.
This is how I came up with the idea for this project:This project idea came from a list of topics offered by Masaryk University. I chose it because I’ve loved fishing for years and care deeply about rivers and aquatic life. It was a great chance to combine my personal passion with science and explore how fish scales reflect water pollution.
