Cadmium, lead and total mercury in Tilapia sp. in Sri Lankan reservoirs

In 2010, samples of muscles, liver and gills of Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) were collected from eighteen reservoirs of four districts in Sri Lanka: Anuradapuraya, Polonnaruwa (North Central Province), Hambantota (Southern Province) and Ampara (Eastern Province). Cd, Pb and Hg were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean Cd, Pb and Hg concentrations in muscle were 0.03 mg/kg, 0.06 mg/kg and 0.26 mg/kg, respectively, while gills contained 0.02 mg/kg, 0.44 mg/kg and 0.36 mg/kg, respectively, on a dry weight basis. The amounts of the three metals in liver were 0.30 mg/kg, 2.07 mg/kg and 0.52 mg/kg on a dry weight basis. The results revealed that the level of heavy metal concentration in Tilapia does not exceed the maximum limit for human consumption according to the European Union and Sri Lankan guidelines.