Heavy Metals in Frozen and Canned Marine Fish of Korea

Abstract

Heavy metal contaminants in fish are of particular interest because of the potential risk to humans who consume them. The edible muscles of eight different species of fishes were analyzed by ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy) for heavy metals, collected from Market in Gwangju, Korea during April-May in 2008. The concentrations of Hg, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn varied between 0.24±0.007 - 0.01±0.001, 44.54±5.69 - 1.23±0.20, 0.13±0.05 – ND (not detected), 1.32±0.47 - 0.09± 0.02, 3.13±2.53 - 0.63±0.06, 107.17±28.02 - 11.27±1.56, 12.38±1.23 - 0.25±0.02, 1.025±1.41 - 0.12±0.09, 0.74±0.28 - 0.05±0.03 and 80.30±17.09 - 22.35±6.89 mg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of arsenic and nickel exceeded the maximum allowable intake level. Keywords: Heavy metals; Marine fish; Korea. © 2010 JSR Publications. ISSN: 2070-0237 (Print); 2070-0245 (Online). All rights reserved. DOI: 10.3329/jsr.v2i3.4667              J. Sci. Res. 2 (3), 551-557 (2010)