title: Total mercury, cadmium and lead levels in main export fish of Sri Lanka.
abstract: Total mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) levels were determined in the muscle of four commercialised exported fish species Thunnus albacares (yellowfin tuna), Xiphias gladius (swordfish), Makaira indica (black marlin) and Lutjanus sp (red snapper) collected from the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka, during July 2009-March 2010 and measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results show that swordfish (n = 176) contained the highest total Hg (0.90 ± 0.51 mg/kg) and Cd (0.09 ± 0.13 mg/kg) levels, whereas yellowfin tuna (n = 140) contained the highest Pb levels (0.11 ± 0.16 mg/kg). The lowest total Hg (0.16 ± 0.11 mg/kg), Cd (0.01 ± 0.01 mg/kg) and Pb (0.04 ± 0.04 mg/kg) levels were found in red snapper (n = 28). Black marlin (n = 24) contained moderate levels of total Hg (0.49 ± 0.37), Cd (0.02 ± 0.02) and Pb (0.05 ± 0.05). Even though there are some concerns during certain months of the year, this study demonstrates the safety of main export fish varieties in terms of total Hg, Cd and Pb.
authors: a Institute of Post-Harvest Technology , National Aquatic Resources Research & Development Agency (NARA) , Colombo , Sri Lanka.
authors: B K K K
authors: BK
authors: Jinadasa
authors: E M R K B
authors: EM
authors: Edirisinghe
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Wickramasinghe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis*; D003132:Commerce; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D019156:Indian Ocean; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010473:Perciformes; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013188:Sri Lanka; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Sri Lanka; cadmium; export; fish; lead; mercury