1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, ALBANIA
2Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, University of Prishtina, KOSOVO
*Corresponding author e-mail: enkeledaozuni@hotmail.com
Abstract:
The study was carried out to evaluate the concentration levels of mercury, lead, cadmium and chrome in muscle tissue of farmed Sea Bream (Sparus aurata). The fish samples were collected monthly at the main fresh fish market of Tirana, during 2011 – 2012. A total of 40 muscle sample tissue of fish species was measured by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Heavy metal concentration of fish samples in both groups (small & large fish size), expressed in mg/kg wet weight ranged as follows; Hg; 0.211–0.041., Pb; 0.022 – nd (mg/kg ww). In contrast cadmium (Cd) a highly toxic chemical substances and chrome (Cr) to resulted in all fish samples below the detection level (nd). According to the results the concentration levels of mercury and lead measured in muscle sample tissue of farmed Sea Bream in every case resulted lower than the maximum permitted level for human consumption set by EC regulation. The results obtained from the study revealed that farmed Sea Bream are contaminated with heavy metals, their concentration in muscle tissue resulted to be in acceptable limits, so this fish species can be safely used as food from Tirana consumers.
Keywords: heavy metals, farmed sea bream, Sparus aurata, concentration.
