HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN EUROPEAN EEL (Anguilla anguilla L., 1758) FROM KOYCEGIZ-DALYAN LAGOON SYSTEM

Abstract

In this study, concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Al, As, Hg, Se, were determined in liver, gill and muscle tissues of eel, Anguilla anguilla, inhabiting Koycegiz-Dalyan Lagoon System in the South-West of Turkey. A total of seventy six eels were obtained seasonally and the total size and weight were measured. Tissue samples were analyzed for heavy metals by ICP/OES Optima 2000-Perkin Elmer. Our results indicated that iron had the highest concentrations in the muscle, gill and liver, followed by zinc, aluminum, copper, manganese, nickel. Considering all the samples, metal concentrations were significantly higher in the liver than in the muscle except for Mn, Ni, Al and Cr which were preferentially accumulated in the gill. In European eel, Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn concentrations were significantly different among tissues, but Cu and Zn were observed higher in individuals obtained from Dalyan sampling point. In Namnam River sampling point, eel muscles were also highly contaminated by Mn, in contrast to eel muscles from Koycegiz Lake sampling point with the lowest levels. In this study, Cd and Pb accumulations were higher than the limits for fish proposed by Turkish Food Codex and European Union Regulation. According to our results, eels inhabiting Kelycegiz Lagoon were associated with enhanced metal content in their muscle tissue and were not safe within the limits for human consumption.