Determination of heavy metal concentrations of most consumed fish species from Bulgarian Black Sea coast

In this study some heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Cr, As, Hg Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) concentration in edible parts of five most consumed Bulgarian fish species - bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), gray mullet (Mugil cephalus), Mediterranean horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus), shad (Alosa pontica) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus sulinus) collected from two stations across Bulgarian Black Sea coast were determined. The samples were digested with nitric acid followed by appropriate spectroscopic determination (Atomic Emission Spectroscopy with Inductively Coupled Plasma (AES-ICP), Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) or Electrotermal Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (ETAAS). The level of As in the edible part of gray mullet (Mugil cephalus) has shown a value higher than limits set from various health organizations (1.1 +/- 0.1 mg/kg). On the contrary this fish species accumulates the other investigated heavy metals such as Hg, Zn, Fe and Pb to lower extend. The concentration of Zn and Fe showed the highest value for all fish species. With some exceptions the concentration of studied heavy metal elements was within the acceptable levels for food source for human consumption.