Selected Heavy Metals Analysis of Persian Sturgeon's (Acipenser persicus) Caviar from Southern Caspian Sea

The present research reports the heavy metal (Fe, Cr, Pb, As, and Co) contamination in caviar of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) caught from Southern Caspian Sea sampling site using ICP-OES. Heavy metal concentrations (microgram per gram, wet weight; means +/- S.D.) in caviar samples were: Fe, 71.33 +/- 0. 37; Cr, 0.27 +/- 0.019; Pb, < 0.01 +/- 0.002; As, < 0.01 +/- 0.002; and Co, < 0.01 +/- 0.001, respectively. Comparative evaluation of these metals in different samples showed that except Fe, the average concentrations of Cr, Pb, As, and Co are significantly lower than adverse level for the species themselves and for human consumption when compared with FAO/WHO permissible limits. Therefore, their contribution to adverse health effects on human body can be considered as negligibly small.