Determination of metals in fish and mussel species by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry

The concentrations of cadmium, iron, lead, zinc, copper, manganese, nickel, chromium and cobalt were determined by ICP-AES in muscles, livers, gills and skins of two fish (Clarias gariepinus and Carasobarbus luteus), and in muscles and gills of two mussel species (Unio terminalis and Potamida littoralis) sampled from the Lake Gölbaşı. Iron showed the highest levels in all examined tissues of both fish species. Following Fe; Zn showed the second highest levels in all examined tissues of both fish species except Mn levels in muscle and gill of C. luteus. In both mussel species, to the contrary fish, manganese showed the highest levels in examined tissues, and followed by Fe. In both fish species, the all metal concentrations in livers were higher than those in muscles. Concentrations in tissues of the analyzed metals were significantly affected by species. There were differences between the metal levels in the similar tissues of the different species (p < 0.05). At the same time, there was also the differences between the metal concentrations in different tissues of the same species (p < 0.05). Metal levels in tissues were compared with national and international permissible limits. Metal concentrations in both edible and other tissues of the sampled species were within the permissible safety levels for human uses.