INVESTIGATION OF METALS IN TISSUES OF FISH SPECIES FROM AKYATAN LAGOON

Heavy metal concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni and Zn in muscles, livers, gonads and gills of flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus L., 1758), golden grey mullet (Liza aurata Risso, 1810), leaping mullet (Liza saliens Risso, 1810), keeled mullet (Liza carinata Valenciennes, 1836), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L., 1758), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax L., 1758), and European eel (Anguilla anguilla L., 1758) from Akyatan Lagoon were monitored. The heavy metal levels found in tissues varied for Cd: 0.04-0.27, Co: 0.04-1.89, Cr: 0.29-2.01, Cu: 0.30-29.7, Fe: 34.9-1.80, Mn: 0.42-7.11, Ni:0.43-2.03, Pb: 0.23-3.58 and Zn: 7.16-68.5 mg/kg wet weight. The values of all metals in muscles of the analyzed fish were found to be below the established limit values. Consequently, it might be concluded that these metals in the edible parts of the examined species should not pose any public health problems.