DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METAL LEVELS IN DIFFERENT TISSUES OF TENCH (TINCA TINCA L., 1758) FROM SIDDIKLI KUCUKBOGAZ DAM LAKE (KIRSEHIR), TURKEY

Abstract

Heavy metal concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr and Al in muscle, liver, skin, intestine and gill of tench (Tinca tinca L., 1758) collected from Siddikli Kucukbogaz Dam Lake, in Turkey, were determined by High Resolution Continuum Source Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (HR CS-FAAS) between March 2012 and February 2013. The heavy metals were accumulated at varying levels in different tissues of tench. The concentration of heavy metals in different tissues of fishes varied for Cu: 0.067-3.793, Fe: 0.460-13.22, Mn: 0.041-1.366, Zn: 0.135-3.783, Cr: nd-1.177 and Al: 0.232-2.07 mu g g(-1) dry weight. Heavy metal levels in tissues were compared with national and international permissible limits. The values of all metals in muscles of the analyzed fish were found to be below the established limit values. Seasonal changes in metal (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr and Al) concentration were observed in the tissues of tench, but these variations may not influence consumption advisories. Consequently, this study suggests that various metals were present in the fish muscle tissues at different levels, but these were within the maximum residual levels permitted by Turkish standards and the WHO/FAO; thus, the fish from these areas are generally safe for human consumption