Comparison of heavy metal accumulation in tissues of economically valuable fish species from two nearby lagoons in Mediterranean coastal area

Metal accumulations in muscles, livers, gonads and gills of fish species from Tuzla and camlik Lagoons both located along the Mediterranean Coastal Area in Adana, Turkey were compared. Mean metal concentrations found in muscle tissues of species caught from both lagoons varied for Fe: 26.0-90.2, Zn: 4.21-21.2, Cu: 0.39-2.15, Mn: 0.15-3.10, Cr: 0.27-1.16, Ni: 0.52-1.09, Pb: 0.26-0.98, Cd: 0.06-0.64 and Co: 0.03-0.62 mg/kg wet weight. Iron showed the highest levels in all tissues, and generally followed by zinc. On the other hand, cadmium, cobalt, chromium and lead showed lower levels than other metals. Statistically significant differences were observed in the mean metal values of tissues both within the same species obtained from different lagoons and different fish species in the same or different lagoons. Levels of metals in the examined fish from both lagoons were well below the regulatory values of various governmental agencies.