Heavy metal concentrations in some commercially important fishes and their contribution to heavy metals exposure in Palestinian people of Gaza Strip (Palestine)

Abstract

This study was carried out to provide information on heavy metal concentrations in the muscles of six commercial fish species available in Gaza Strip markets and to evaluate the possible risk associated with their consumption. The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) were determined in the muscles of Merluccius hubbsi, Micropogonias furnieri, Pangasius hypothalamus, Oreochromis niloticus, Sparus aurata and Mugil cephalus. The levels of heavy metals were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after digestion of the samples using kjldahl heating digester. There were great variations among heavy metal levels in the muscles of the six fish species. M. cephalus accumulated the highest levels of Cu, Mn and Ni, while the highest levels of Zn, Cd and Pb were detected in M. furnieri. The heavy metal concentrations found in muscles varied for Cu: 0.251–0.907, Zn: 3.705–20.535, Mn: 0.376– 0.834, Ni: 0.453–0.978 and Pb: Nd-0.552 lg/g wet weight. Cadmium was only detected in M. furnieri (0.09 lg/g wet wt). The estimated levels of all metals in the present study were lower than the limits permitted by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO), European Community Regulation (EU), the United Kingdom Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), Turkish and Saudi guidelines. Lead and cadmium concentrations in M. furnieri however, exceeded the permissible limits in fish proposed by European Commission (EC). The estimated daily intakes (EDI) of all metals (lg/day/person) through consumption of the fish species by Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip were well below the permissible tolerable daily intake for 70 kg person (PTDI70) set by FAO/WHO. Therefore, it can be concluded that no problems on human health would be raised at present from the consumption of commercial fish from the Gaza Strip markets.