Concentrations of Some Trace Metals in the Tissues of Two Commercial Fishes from Tonekabon

In this study, concentrations of mercury (Hg) and 16 other elements as well as methylmercury speciation were quantified in muscle and liver of two commercial fish species. It was also our intention to evaluate potential risks to human health associated with seafood consumption. The fish species, Mullet and Kutum (Caspian White fish) fishes, were obtained from Tonekabon at the Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea. In this investigation fish tissues (muscle and liver) were analyzed to determine Al, As, Be, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sb, Tl, V, Zn and methylmercury. Total mercury concentration in the fish muscles and liver ranged from 0.02 to 0.13 and from 0.03 to 0.06 μg g-1 w.w, respectively. Almost all the elements were more accumulated in the muscle of Mullet than Kutum fish, except for Hg, Pb and Ni. Concentrations of all elements in the muscle of both fishes were lower than the WHO maximum consumption limit in fish muscle. All elements were more accumulated in the fish liver than the muscle tissue, except for mercury in Kutum fish. This study identifies a statistical relationship between metal concentrations and fish sizes and also the relationship between element levels in the fish liver and muscle.