The Environmental Safety of Fish Products

Abstract

The anthropogenic pollution of the environment leads to the discharge of various pollutants into water ecosystems, which further accumulate in fish and other hydrobionts. Fish is a valuable traditional food source for humans, and the quality assessment for fish products is therefore a relevant problem. This article deals with researching the content of pollutants in game fish, in particular in the Siberian whitefish. The goal of this work is to identify the content of heavy metals and cesium 137 in the muscle tissue and organs of the fish (whitefish) caught in the lower reaches of the Lena River. Research methods: The sampled materials were tested for heavy metals using the atomic absorption method. The content of Cs 137 was established using the spectrometric method. Results: the average concentration values for heavy metals (mg/kg) (Pb, Cd, Hg) in the muscle tissue and organs of the whitefish do not exceed the limits. The average content of lead in muscular tissue is 0.0135±0.0025 mg/kg, cadmium - 0.0076±0.0014 mg/kg, and mercury 0.0011±0.0000 ug. Arsenic was not found in the muscle tissue and organs of the fish. The highest relative content of heavy metals was observed in the livers of the whitefish. The content of cesium 137 is insignificant and below the allowed level of radionuclide activity. Conclusion: The analysis of the research results shows that the contents of heavy metals and cesium 137 in the fish caught in the lower reaches of the Lena do not exceed the standard levels. The on-going pollution of lakes and rivers within the Lena watershed calls for regular monitoring of heavy metal and radionuclide content and accumulation in game fish.