Assessment of the Heavy Metal Contents of Sardina pilchardus Sold in Izmir, Turkey

The total heavy metal (chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb)) present in the muscle tissue of sardine was determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) after microwave wet digestion during the winter season of 2010. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in the sardine muscle tissues was 0.21 mg Cr/kg, 1.00 mg Cu/kg, 1.49 mg As/ kg, 0.46 mg Cd/kg, 0.03 mg Hg/kg, and 0.14 mg Pb/kg wet weight. It was found that the cadmium concentrations in the sardine fish samples provided from four fish markets with the exception of one fish market, exceeded the value of 0.05 mg Cd/kg (wet weight) limit which is permitted nationally and internationally. The level of arsenic for one of each group of sardines sampled was higher than the permitted limit of arsenic according to the Australia Food Standard (1.00 mg As/kg). As a result, the comprehensive and periodic controls of heavy metals in fish are important in terms of public and environmental health.