Evaluation of heavy metals and selenium contents in the muscle tissues of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum, 1792) in Western Anatolia

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the contamination of five heavy metals (chromium, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead) and selenium in specimens of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) that were purchased in the five biggest fish markets in İzmir (Turkey) during the period from January 2010 to January 2011. The concentrations of heavy metals in the muscle tissue samples were determined by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after wet digestion. The mean chromium, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and selenium concentrations in the muscle tissue samples were 0.25, 0.51, 0.03,<0.01, 0.08 and 0.62 mg kg-1 of sample wet weight, respectively. Estimated average daily intake rates of analysed heavy metals were under the tolerable daily intakes established by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization. As a result, it was determined that the consumption of trout in İzmir did not have any negative effects on human health in terms of heavy metals.