Determination of metals in fish species from Aegean and Mediterranean seas

Determination of metal levels in muscles and livers of twelve fish species from Aegean Sea and Mediterranean Sea by ICP-AES was made. The levels of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in muscles of fish were <0.01–0.39, <0.01–0.45, 0.07–1.48, 0.51–7.05, 9.18–136, 0.18–2.78, 0.03–1.72, 0.21–1.28 and 3.51–53.5 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Metal levels in muscles were generally lower than those in livers. Metal concentrations in the edible parts of fish were assessed for human uses according to provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) and provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI). The estimated values of all metals in muscles of fish in this study were below the established values. Therefore, it can be concluded that these metals in edible parts of the examined species should pose no health problems for consumers.