Determination of Copper, Zinc and Iron Levels in Muscles of Three Commercial Fish Species of Coastal Waters of The Caspian Sea, Iran

This research was done in order to determine the copper, zinc and iron levels in three fish muscles, namely Mullet (Mugil auaratus), Sefid (Rutilus frisii kutum) and Commom carp (Cyprinus carpio), from four fishing sites (Chaloos, Anzali, Roodsar and Fereidon kenar) of The Caspian Sea. The concentration of metals was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) on the basis of mg/kg dry weight of muscles. The mean concentration values of copper in muscle of Mullet, Sefid and Common carp were 3.14±1.17, 3.69±2.24 and 3.39±1.24, respectively. The mean Concentration values of zinc in the same species were 43.46±14.01, 37.99±15.00 and 73.81±21.14, respectively. Also, the mean concentration values of iron were 81.11±17.99, 73.59±16.59 and 94.78±20.13, respectively. Concentrations of zinc and iron were significantly affected by the fishing sites and fish species (P<0.05). The highest concentrations of zinc and iron were in Common carp which were recorded from Anzaly and Chaloos fishing sites respectively (P<0.05). Trace elements in muscles of the investigated fishes were in the permissible safety levels for human consumption.