COMPARISON OF THE HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN ATLANTIC HORSE MACKEREL, TRACHURUS TRACHURUS, FROM COASTAL WATERS OF TURKEY

The concentrations of cadmium, iron, lead, zinc, copper, manganese, nickel, chromium and cobalt were determined by ICP-AES in muscles and livers of Atlantic horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus, from coastal waters of Turkey. The analyzed fish samples were collected from different locations in the Black, Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean seas. The heavy metal concentrations in tissues were significantly affected by sampling sites (p<0.05). Iron showed the highest levels in both tissues from all locations, followed by Zn. In all locations, the heavy metal concentrations in livers were higher than those in muscles. In addition, the differences between the heavy metal concentrations in tissues were statistically significant (p<0.05). Heavy metal levels in tissues were compared with national and international permissible limits. Heavy metal concentrations in the edible parts of fish were assessed for human uses.