A Study on Heavy Metal Content of Sardine (Sardina Pilchardus) Caught in the Dardanelles

Sardine (Sardina pilchardus) is one of the most important species among Turkish fisheries and is broadly distributed along Turkey’s Saros Bay waters. In this study, the amount of heavy metal content of sardine, which is a fish abundantly consumed and caught in the Dardanelles has been determined between November and December of 2013. The effects of heavy metals, which are found especially in fisheries, on human health and on the environment arouse great interest. Toxic contaminants particularly such as lead, cadmium and mercury are found in the water as a result of industrial and agricultural activities and mining. The high concentration of these metals affects not only aquatic environments but also fish species negatively. In this research, the amount of heavy metal in two sardine samples (R1/R2) taken from Çanakkale fish market is analyzed. ICP-AES (Inductively Couple Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy) is used in the analysis for Zn, Cr, Cd, Pb, Fe, Cu, and Ni. According to the results obtained, the average heavy metal amount of the two samples are found at the levels: 47,81001 for Zn, 0,163543 for Cr, 0,047545 for Cd, ND for Pb, 19,60705 for Fe, 1,385225 for Cu and 0,174258 for Ni. Pb is below the limits of the detection of ICP device, and no figures have been obtained. Other obtained figures have been observed to be below the acceptable amount in comparison to the figures of EPA standards.