Heavy metal accumulation in liver tissue of two fish species of Adriatic sea

ENKELEDA OZUNI, DORIANA BEQIRAJ, PELLUMB ZALLA, ILIR DOVA

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, ALBANIA

*Corresponding author e-mail: enkeledaozuni@hotmail.com

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Abstract

The concentration levels of mercury, lead, cadmium and chrome were measured in liver tissue of two valuable fish species of Adriatic Sea, Lophius piscatorius and Trachurus trachurus. The level of heavy metals was measured by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS).  Concentration levels of heavy metals in liver tissue of both fish species ranged as follows: Hg 0.05 – 1.45; Cd 0.030 – 0.98; Cr nd – 0.131mg/kg wet weight; Pb resulted always below the detection level (nd) in both liver tissue of fish species. As expected, the levels of heavy metal in liver varied significantly between fish species. The results of our study sustain the fact that liver tissue is an important target location of heavy metals accumulation. Based on these findings, Lophius piscatorius and Trachurus trachurus  should be object of further investigation with the final goal to safeguard the population who constantly consume them.

Keywords: heavy metals, Lophius piscatorius, Trachurus trachurus