Heavy Metal Levels in some Edible Crustacean and Mollusk Species Marketed in Mersin

Abstract

Muscle tissues of squid (Loligo vulgaris), cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) and prawn (Penaeus semisulcatus) marketed for consumption were analyzed for their Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb levels. Metal analysis were carried out using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopic (ICP-MS) methods. Muscle levels of Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb ranged between 0.50–19.82, 0.53–8.57, 6.80–32.12 and <0.003–1.60 mg/kg w.w., respectively whereas Cd level was below detection limits in the species studied. Mean muscle levels of metals in samples for consumption were compared with provisional tolerable daily (PTDs) and weekly (PTWs) limits. It was shown that the levels of metals in tissues analyzed were below PTDs and PTWs. Mean metal levels of all samples were also below the upper limits set by Turkish Food Codex (TFC) and European Union (EU) Commission. Hence it was shown that levels of the selected 5 metals in muscle tissues of squid, cuttlefish and prawns marketed in Mersin were in accordance with the quality standards set by TFC and EUC and concluded that they do not pose any health problems for human consumption.