- Deniz Ayas
Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey
ayasdeniz@mersin.edu.tr - Ali Rıza Köşker
Faculty of Fisheries, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey
Volume 3 - No: 1
The effects of age and individual size on metal accumulation of Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin, 1789) from Mersin Bay, Turkey
DOI: 10.28978/nesciences.379321
Keywords: Lagocephalus sceleratus, Pufferfish, Heavy Metals, Age, Metal Accumulation
Abstract
In this study, heavy metal levels in muscle and liver tissues of different age groups of Lagocephalus sceleratus caught in the Mersin Bay were investigated. Six different age groups were determined among fishes caught using commercial trawlers from the Mersin Bay. The lengths of fish were measured between 17 cm and 68 cm, the weights were measured between 265 g and 3955 g. Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr) and Arsenic (As) levels were investigated using ICPMS. The heavy metal concentrations in the liver and muscle tissues in L. sceleratus were found to be As>Cr>Cd>Pb and As>Cr>Pb>Cd, respectively. It was observed that with the increased ages of pufferfish, the levels of heavy metals determined in both muscle and liver tissues were increased.