Some trace elements in freshwater fishes from Slovenia

Freshwater fishes from rivers and fish-farms were analysed for their levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in their muscle tissue. There were 65 analysed samples; 16 fishes from rivers and 49 from fish-farms. The following freshwater fishes were analysed: trouts (different sorts), carps, graylins and others. Fishes from fish-farms contained between <0.05 and 0.14 mg Pb kg(-1), <0.003 and 0.031 mg Cd kg(-1), <0.01 and 0.85 mg Cu kg(-1) and between 5.38 and 50.95 mg Zn kg(-1). Fishes from rivers contained between <0.003 and 0.021 mg Cd kg(-1), <0.01 and 0.83 mg Cu kg(-1) and between 6.99 and 34.66 mg Zn kg(-1). In all fishes from fish-farms the content of Pb was <0.05 mg kg(-1). For Cu and Zn in trouts there were no significant differences between fishes from rivers and fish-farms (p < 0.05). For Cu no major differences were found between different species but there were found major differences in Zn content.