Trace element concentrations in the organs of fish along the southeast coast of India

Trace element pollution in the marine system is a global concern as the exposure of marine organisms to this pollution results in bioaccumulation and further transfer of the trace elements to humans through food chain. In the present study, the distribution of trace elements, namely chromium, cobalt, nickel, iron, copper, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead, in gills, bone, liver, and muscle of eight commercially important fish collected along the southeast coast of India was analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The liver was the main organ of accumulation for copper, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury; bone for chromium, cobalt, and lead; gills for copper; and muscle for arsenic and mercury. The concentration of toxic trace elements such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead in the edible portion of fish was lower than the recommended International Legislation limits, indicating that the fish of this region are safe for consumption.