- Meltem Eken
Iskenderun Technical University, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, TURKEY
- Funda Turan
Iskenderun Technical University, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, TURKEY
turanfunda@yahoo.com
- Fatmagün Aydın
Çukurova University, Biotechnology Research And Application Center Management Balcalı/Adana, TURKEY
- Serpil Karan
Iskenderun Technical University, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, TURKEY
Keywords: Lessepsian Suez Puffer, Lagocephalus suezensis, Heavy metals, Iskenderun Bay
Abstract
In the present study, the heavy metal concentration in different organs (skin and muscle
tissue) were studied in in lessepsian suez puffer (Lagocephalus suezensis Clark and Gohar, 1953)
collected from Iskenderun Bay, North-eastern Mediterranean. Heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Co, Cr,
Fe, Mn, Ni & Zn) were analyzed in different organs for the above mentioned species. The
maximum heavy metals concentration in muscle tissues of the species were Cu 1.750 mg/kg, Fe
18.096 mg/kg, Mn 0.606 mg/kg, Zn 228.571 mg/kg, Cd 2.00 mg/kg, Co 3.571 mg/kg, Cr 0.952
mg/kg, Ni 1.500 mg/kg and Pb 18.095 mg/kg. Zn was detected higher in all the samples followed
by Fe, Pb, Co, Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr and Mn. In the present study, heavy metal concentrations were found
high in muscle tissues when compared to skin. The Pb, Cd and Zn concentration over the
recommended limits was found in Lagocephalus suezensis. Further, this is the first report on
distribution of heavy metals and proximate compositions of commercialized important edible
pufferfishes from Iskenderun Bay, Turkey.