The concentration of lead, chromium, cadmium, nickel and mercury in three species of consuming fishes of Isfahan

The consumption of aquatic nutrition sources, especially fishes, as a partial supply of protein has increased for ever-increasing demand of protein. In accordance with such an ever-increasing demand and bioaccumulation of toxic compounds, the safety control of mentioned foods, regarding the toxic level of heavy metals, become an important issue.

In this study the concentration of toxic trace elements, lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and mercury (Hg) were measured in 105 samples of fishes including Lutjans Coccineus and Tigeratooh Croaker (from Persian Gulf) and Cyprinus carpio (from artificial cultured pounds) were measure. The concentration of toxic trace elements were determined using Atomic Absorption method and Hg was measured using Neutron Activation Analysis.

Mean concentration of Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni and Hg in Lutjans Coccineus species of fish tissue were 0.44, 0.03, 0.06, 0.32 and 0.22, respectively. Mean concentration of Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni and Hg Tigeratooh Croaker were 0.48, 0.06, 0.06, 0.28 and 0.42, respectively. Mean concentration of Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni and Hg Cyprinus carpio were0.48, 0.07, 0.05, 0.30 and 0.22.

The results of the study revealed that the mean concentration of toxic heavy metals in fishes did not exceed the WHO standards level. The exceeded level of Pb, Cd, Cr and Ni regarding to the WHO standard limits were presented in