The Factors Affecting Heavy Metal Levels in the Muscle Tissues of Whiting Merlangius merlangus and Red Mullet Mullus barbatus

Abstract

This study aims to determine heavy metal accumulation levels in the muscles tissues of two economically most important demersal fish species in the Eastern Black Sea, Turkey, red mullet Mullus barbatus and whiting Merlangius merlangus , and evaluate the effects of fish species, sampling locations, fishing season and size groups on heavy metal accumulation levels. Chromium Cr , manganese Mn , cobalt Co , nickel Ni , copper Cu , zinc Zn , arsenic As , cadmium Cd and lead Pb concentrations in fish muscle samples were measured with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry ICP-MS . Co, Zn, As and Cd accumulation levels in both species differed significantly P

Keywords

• black sea
• fish
• heavy metal
• whiting
• red mullet
• pollution
• karadeniz
• balık
• ağır metal
• mezgit
• barbunya
• kirlilik