METAL CONTAMINATIONS IN FIVE FISH SPECIES FROM BLACK, MARMARA, AEGEAN AND MEDITERRANEAN SEAS, TURKEY

The concentrations of cadmium, copper, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, zinc and lead in muscle and liver tissues of the fish samples collected from seven stations in the coastal waters of Turkey and were determined. Iron showed the highest levels in both tissues offish and all stations. Following Fe; Zn generally showed the second highest levels. Metal concentrations in edible parts offish species were 0.02-0.30 mg kg"' for cadmium, 0.04-0.26 mg kg"' for cobalt, 0.07-1.19 mgkg"' for chromium, 0.34-16.7 mgkg"' for copper, 18.5-72.3 mgkg"' for iron, 0.07-2.58 mgkg"' for manganese, 0.01-2.78 mgkg"'for nickel, 0.04-1.34 mg kg"' for lead, 3.36-42.6 mg kg"' for zinc respectively. In general, metal concentrations in livers were higher than those in muscles. Cadmium, chromium and lead concentrations in muscles offish from some stations were higher than permissible safety levels for human uses.