BIOACCUMULATION OF COPPER, ZINC, MANGAN, IRON AND MAGNESIUM IN SOME ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT FISH FROM THE WESTERN SHORES OF ANTALYA

Abstract

Bioaccumulation of copper, zinc, manganese, iron and magnesium which generaly result from agricultural activities was determined in muscle, skin and gills of some economically important sea fish (Diplodus sargus, Siganus rivulatus, Lithognathus mormyrus, Liza aurata, Chelon labrasus) from the western shores of Antalya, intensive agricultural regions. The minimum and maximum levels of investigated elements (mg kg-1 wet weight) in tissues of the fish varied from 0.54 to1.69 for copper; from 4.14 to 407.23 for zinc from 0.15 to 9.17 for mangan; from 3.45 to104.49 for iron; and from 204.33 to 784.30 for magnesium. While the lowest levels of elements were determined in the muscle, the highest levels (except copper) were encountered in the gills. Copper and zinc levels in muscle of the species were remarkably lower than the maximum permissible levels informed by World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Turkish Legislation although zinc contents in the skin of some species (D. sargus, S. rivulatus, L. mormyrus and L. aurata) were higher than that levels.