Determination of some heavy metals in Rutilus frisii kutum and Cyprinus carpio fillet from south Caspian Sea

In this study, levels of Cadmium, Lead, Arsenic and Mercury heavy metals, which are required by the WHO and The UNFAO to be determined in sea food, were evaluated using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy technique, in tissues of two commonly consumed fish in Iran namely Rutilus frisii kutum and Cyprinus carpio collected from the south coastline of the Caspian Sea. The average concentration of Cd, Pb, As and Hg, were detected as (μg g-1) dry weight of Rutilus frisii kutum’s tissues: 1.21 0.30, 2.57 1.31, 0.15 0.08 and 0.34 0.01 respectively. These values for Cyprinus carpio were detected as: 1.35 0.40, 2.49 0.20, 0.30 0.03 and 0.30 0.01 (Mean Standard Error). These values were compared with the WHO and the UNFAO safety standards regarding the amount of the above mentioned heavy metals in fish tissues. Based on the results of this study, the concentration of Cadmium and Lead in the studied fish tissues proved to be much higher than international standards with a reliability of P<0.05. The results show that the pollution in the water of this region are because of these heavy elements.