TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECT OF HEAVY METALS TO HUMAN HEALTH FROM CONSUMPTION OF FISHES COLLECTED FROM THE MARINE COASTAL WATER OF SABRATHA, LIBYA

Abstract

 This study estimted the concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in three commercially important marine fishes, namely, Thunnus thynnus, Sarpa salpa and Trachurus trachurus. The fish samples were collected from Sabratha which are located on the western coastal waters of Libya. The organs of fish, namely, gills, liver, and muscle were carefully separated through the dissection from fish for the determination of heavy metal using Absorption Spectrophotometer. The findings of the study showed that the muscle tissues of the three species presented Zn levels far under the permissible level presented by WHO but higher than the permissible level presented by FAO. Moreover, levels of Cu in the muscles of T. thynnus (22.87±0.15) and T. trachurus (16.87±0.09) were higher than the permissible levels presented by WHO and FAO. Furthermore, the the levels of Pb in the muscles of T. thynnus, S. salpa and T. trachurus (1.66±0.01), (4.77±0.01) and (1.30±0.01) µg/g dry weight, respectively were higher than the permissible levels reported by WHO and FAO. The values in the muscles exceeded the standard guideline values and hence would pose health hazard to consumers.