Heavy Metal Levels of Some Marine Organisms Collected in Samsun and Sinop Coasts of Black Sea, in Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study, is to evaluate the heavy metal concentrations of marine organisms in Samsun and Sinop coasts of Black Sea. As test materials, 3 sample groups of red mullet, whiting and mussel, 2 sample groups of turbot, 1 sample group of veined rapa whelk and halibut were collected in Samsun and Sinop cities of Turkey. Heavy metal analyses were carried out by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Lead concentrations of veined rapa whelk, mussel and red mullet sample groups were found to be 0.1435; 0.26-1.87 and 0.0515-0.0815 mg kg-1, respectively. The concentrations of other sample groups were below the maximum permission limits. Cadmium concentrations of veined rapa whelk, mussel and halibut were found as 4.63; 0.41-0.49 and 0.88 mg kg-1, respectively. The cadmium concentrations of the other sample groups didn't exceed the maximum permission limits. Mercury concentrations only in turbot sample groups exceeded the maximum permission limits. Arsenic was detected in all sample groups. Its concentrations of red mullet, whiting, mussel, turbot, halibut and veined rapa whelk were found to be as follows: 1.33-2.375; 0.58-1.085; 1.35-1.91; 0.59-1.56; 4.75 and 6.55 mg kg-1, respectively. © Medwell Journals, 2009.