Metal levels in Trachurus trachurus and Cyprinus carpio in Turkey

Concentrations of five toxic metals were determined in two fish species from Turkish cities during 2010-2011. The obtained lead concentrations for all of the studied Trachurus trachurus (mean 777 μg kg(-1)) and Cyprinus carpio (mean 439 μg kg(-1)) samples were found to be higher than the maximum level (ML) of 300 μg kg(-1), while Cd concentrations in the same samples were lower than the ML. Mean chromium (501 μg kg(-1)), Ni (272 μg kg(-1)) and Cu (785 μg kg(-1)) concentrations in T. trachurus were significantly higher than in C. carpio (336 μg Cr kg(-1), 229 μg Ni kg(-1) and 394 μg Cu kg(-1)), similar to those of Pb and Cd. Measured Pb concentrations in T. trachurus tissues are significantly higher than the ML, while those of Cd in both T. trachurus and C. carpio species were lower than the ML values.