Metal Content Determination In Muscle, Liver And Gill Tissues Of Two Important Marine Fishes From Kapar Coastal Waters, Malaysia
Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in muscle, liver and gill tissues of two commercially fish species, Arius maculatus and Pennahia anea collected in dry and rainy seasons from Kapar on the western coastal water, Peninsular Malaysia. Generally, Metal levels in muscles were lower than those in livers and gills. Zn concentration was found highest in all species in different seasons. The seasonal variations of Cu, Zn and Cd in tissues revealed that these metals were higher concentrated during rainy season. However, in dry season Pb concentrations in the muscle were higher than the maximum levels set by FAO/WHO but still below the Malaysian Food regulation standard. The findings of the research indicated that heavy metals in the edible parts of the investigated fish are in the permissible safety levels for human consumptions.
Keywords- safety level, marine fish, metals, ICP-MS.