Element content in cultured and wild sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) from the Adriatic Sea

V. Karamarko,Nicola Pirrone,T. Dolenec,P. Žvab Rožič,M. Dolenec,B. Baždarić,G. Kniewald

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20130111001

V. Karamarko, Nicola Pirrone + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20130111001

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of potentially toxic elements in cultured and wild fish tissues and to assess their risk for human health. For this purpose, sea bass specimens ( Dicentrarchus labrax ) were sampled in selected fish farm and three other locations along the eastern Adriatic coast. Ranges of element concentrations in sea bass muscles were 1.60-4.46 ppm for As, 0.001-0.079 ppm for Cd, 0.14-49.10 ppm for Cr, 1.38-4.85 ppm for Cu, 0.11-1.31 ppm for Hg, 0.01-0.65 ppm for Pb and 21.9-136.0 ppm for Zn. Mean Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn concentrations in commercially interesting cultured fish samples were below the permissible levels, while mean As values slightly exceed those limits. In wild fishes mean Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations were below the recommended limits, for As, Cr and Hg the mean values were higher. The smallest cultured sea bass samples showed As, Cr, Pb, and Zn concentrations exceeding the recommended limits but values decreased with fish size. Therefore, the metal concentrations in commercial fishes showed no threat for human consumption.

Highlights

Among several different contaminants, metals are recognized as one of the greatest threats to organisms due to their persistence and possible bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the food chain (Demirak et al, 2006; Uysal et al, 2009)
Measured results show the ranges of element concentrations in sea bass muscles 1.60-4.46 ppm for arsenic, 0.001-0.079 ppm for cadmium, 0.14-49.10 ppm for chromium, 1.38-4.85 ppm for cooper, 0.11-1.31 ppm for mercury, 0.01-0.65 ppm for lead and 21.9-136.0 ppm for zinc
Mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn were higher in cultured fishes, while only Hg values were higher in wild specimens

Summary

Introduction

Metals are recognized as one of the greatest threats to organisms due to their persistence and possible bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the food chain (Demirak et al, 2006; Uysal et al, 2009). Some metals as mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) are considered to be very dangerous, while some other essential elements, such as copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and zinc (Zn), can cause toxic effects at excessively elevated values (Cid et al, 2001 and references therein). Food presents the main and a constant source of potentially toxic trace metals in different parts of human body and can cause damage in many of its basic systems Numerous researches focused to investigation of potentially toxic metals in marine organisms as well as their potential sources (sea water, food) (Ersoy et al, 2006; Burger et al, 2007; Dural et al, 2007; Biladžić et al, 2011; Fallah et al, 2011; Mieiro et al, 2011; Percın et et al, 2011 and many others)

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