Abstrait

Metal levels in commercial pelagic fishes and their contribution to their exposure in Turkish people of the Black Sea.

Levent Bat

Heavy metals naturally occur in marine environment and may enter in biota including fish as a result of anthropogenic activities such as industrial; urbanization and agricultural processes. The metals in fish as food are being particular concern in relation to harmful effects on public health. Four commercially important pelagic fish Sarda sarda; Pomatomus saltatrix; Trachurus mediterraneus and Engraulis encrasicolus were captured in four of the most important fishing municipalities in the southern Black Sea coasts; to determine the levels of heavy metals in the muscle and to evaluate the possible risk associated with their consumption. Fish samples were collected during the fishing season between September and December in 2015 from Igneada; Sinop; Samsun; and Trabzon ports of the southern Black Sea. Metals were determined by using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometer). Concentrations in studied coasts gradually decreased from Igneada to Sinop; and then significantly increased at Samsun and Trabzon. According to the results; heavy metal concentrations in fish species tissues were well within the limits set by the FAO/WHO recommendations and showed that the fish from investigated region are safety for consumers.