Levels of selected metals in canned fish consumed in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

In the present paper, seven heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr and Fe) in canned salmon, sardine and tuna fish were determined by using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Cadmium and lead levels were determined by graphite tube AAS whereas Ni, Cu, Cr and Fe were determined by flame AAS. Analytical results were validated by spiking the samples with various concentrations of these metals for recovery. The metal contents, expressed in mu g/g, wet weight, varied depending upon the specie studied. The levels of Pb ranged from 0.03-1.20 mu g-g(-1) with an average of 0.313 mu g-g(-1) for salmon; 0.03 - 0.51 mu g-g(-1) with an average of 0.233 mu g-g(-1) for tuna and 0.13 - 1.97 mu g-g(-1) with an average of 0.835 mu g-g(-1) for sardines. The levels of Cd ranged from 0.02-0.38 mu g-g(-1) with an average of 0.161 mu g-g(-1) for salmon; 0.07-0.64 mu g-g(-1) with an average of 0.227 mu g-g(-1) for tuna and 0.010-0.690 mu g-g(-1) with an average of 0.183 mu g-g(-1) for sardines. Comparative evaluation of these metals in three varieties of fish showed that average concentration of lead in sardines is about 4 times and Ni about 3 times higher as compared to tuna. Generally, the levels of these metals follow the order sardine > salmon > tuna. The data generated in the present study compared well with the similar studies carried out in different parts of the world. The results indicate that canned fish, in general and tuna in particular, have concentrations within permissible limits of WHO/FAO levels for these heavy metals. Therefore, their contribution to the total body burden of these metals can be considered as negligibly small.